Football: Rochdale 0 - 3 Hull City

Hull City ran out comfortable winners at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday 17 October as Rochdale AFC went down to their second successive defeat.

A tight first half ended with Hull City taking a 1-0 lead into the half time interval - a right-wing corner on 20 minutes was powered home by the head of Mallik Wilks with Dale unable to muster any kind of real threat on Matt Ingram’s goal. Two quick fire goals midway through the second half sealed the points for the visitors as Brian Barry-Murphy’s side failed to deal with two set plays. Wilks volleyed in his second of the game in the 74th minute after being set up by Josh Magennis whilst Magennis turned from provider to goal scorer 60 seconds later heading in from close range after cross from the left.

After missing last weekend’s game at Accrington due to International duty, on loan Manchester City goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was back between the sticks whilst Paul McShane was passed fit after leaving the game against Accrington seven days ago at half-time. Brian Barry-Murphy handed a debut to Arsenal youngster Tolaji Bola at left back. The visitors, who were relegated from the Championship last season, arrived looking to bounce back from having lost their 100% start to the season last weekend at Fleetwood.

Dale dominated the ball for large parts of the first half but without really troubling the scoresheet and it was the visitors who looked more likely to open the scoring; George Honeyman should have done better when he fired over the bar from a Keane Lewis-Potter cross.

The opening goal came midway through the first half. Callum Elder’s corner from the right was perfect for Wilks who beat Jimmy Keohane in the air to thump his header past Bazunu.

Dale’s best chance fell to summer signing Jake Beesley who has yet to score since his move from Solihull Moors. Aaron Morley’s corner was met by Beesley but the striker’s header flew wide from 8 yards out.

Hull stepped it up a gear after the re-start and almost doubled their lead with their first second half attack. Lewis-Potter used O’Connell as a shield as he bent a shot around the Dale captain towards the bottom corner; Bazunu just about tipping it around his left-hand post.

The visitor’s power and pace began to show as they imposed themselves more and more. Greg Docherty hit a shot over the bar after dispossessing Jimmy Ryan whilst Lewis-Potter failed to hit the target after a good counterattack from Wilks set up the young striker.

Last week against Accrington, Dale were undone by two goals in two minutes and history was to repeat itself here today. At 1-0 down, there was always a glimmer of hope that Barry-Murphy’s side could get back into things but two goals in a little over 60 seconds rubber stamped the outcome of the game. Josh Emmanuel’s burst down the right before crossing to Magennis caught Dale on the back foot and the Northern Ireland International teed up Wilks, the Summer signing from Barnsley netted his second with a volley that bounced beyond the dive of Bazunu.

2-0 soon became 3-0 from the kick off. Hull pressed Dale and forced a mistake from substitute Stephen Dooley who gave away a corner from which they scored. Honeyman’s short corner routine saw him cross at the second attempt for Magennis to rise above Ryan McLaughlin to head in from inside the 6-yard box.

 

Rochdale: Bazunu, Keohane, O’Connell ©, McShane (McLaughlin 54), Bola, Morley, Lund (Done 85), Ryan (Dooley 59), Rathbone, Newby, Beesley
Substitutes: (not used) Lynch, Tavares, Hopper, Dunne

Hull: Ingram, Emmanuel, Burke, Greaves, Elder, Smallwood © (Jones 80), Honeyman, Docherty (Slater 76),Wilks, Magennis (Eaves 76), Lewis-Potter
Substitutes: (not used) Long, Coyle, Adelakun, Mayer

Referee: Mr G Ward
Assistants: Mr A Fox & Mr M Jones
Fourth Official: Mr S Hudson