Rochdale 1 (Dagnall 90) Accrington Stanley 2 (Grant 45, Symes 70)

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Rory McArdle is tackled by Accrington's Sean McConville.

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Accrington took a deserved three points after a sub-par Rochdale performance condemned them to a first home defeat since August.

The visitors beat Dale for the first time since returning to the league four seasons ago as Robert Grant nodded them ahead right on half time and Michael Symes hit a wonder volley midway through the second half. Chris Dagnall pulled one back in injury time but Accrington survived the further six minutes of time added on without any further scares.

The game was a mostly scrappy affair, with Symes bringing one of few moments of genuine class to the game with his goal that deserved to win any game. Accrington had deserved the points as they nullified what little threat Rochdale had to offer and caused the Dale defence some problems with their long ball approach.

Keith Hill was forced into one change from the side that beat Grimsby last weekend with Gary Jones sidelined by the hamstring injury that he picked up in that game. Dale Stevens, the man that replaced him at Blundell Park, started his first league game for Dale, while Jason Kennedy took over the captain's armband.

The game got off to a scrappy start but slowly the chances came. The visitors had the first of them as Robert Grant flicked the ball on for Sean McConville to steal a yard between defenders and goalkeeper. Former Accrington keeper Kenny Arthur advanced and McConville could only flick the ball past the post.

Jason Kennedy then tried his luck from distance after some superb skill in the middle of the park allowed the skipper for the day to beat two men and find space for a rising drive that Ian Dunbavin collected safely.

Accrington were equipping themselves well against a Dale side that had won their last four home games and asked questions of the home side's backline through a series of corners but Marcus Holness was dominant in the air and Arthur was not troubled.

Rochdale struggled to recreate the football that the Spotland faithful have been used to seeing this season and they were reduced to shots from range against a tight Accrington backline. Simon Whaley was next to fire in a well struck effort from twenty yards and the ball whistled just past the post. Tom Kennedy then got in on the act, putting a free kick on target but there was not enough pace for it to trouble Dunbavin.

Accrington were always going to provide a physical challenge for Rochdale, but centre half pairing Darren Kempson and Phil Edwards took the battle too far with a couple of crass tackles on Chris Dagnall and Chris O'Grady. Both were booked for their efforts.

With the game cruising towards half time after an opening period that could not have looked less like bringing a goal, the visitors took the lead. The goal came almost out of nothing but the Dale centre halves were caught on their heals as Symes headed the ball across for Robert Grant to steal a yard on Holness and head Accrington in front.

The start of the second half played out much like the first but slowly the game began to open up as Dale pushed harder for an equaliser. A sharp break saw Dagnall drive at the heart of the Accrington defence and spread the ball wide for Whaley. The Norwich winger whipped a low cross through the six yard box and a sliding Adam Rundle turned the ball onto the outside of the post.

At the other end Arthur kept his side in it as McConville skipped beyond Rory McArdle on the left and cut the ball back for Grant, whose shot was destined for the corner before Arthur checked his feet and dived at full stretch to turn the ball behind.

Keith Hill introduced Marcus Magna, Joe Thompson and Scott Wiseman as Dale chased the game and the pace of frenchman Magna almost brought Dale level as he raced into the box but the ball got caught under the striker's feet and Dunbavin was able to smother.

Dale looked as though they would exert some extended pressure on Accrington during the remainder but they were left with a mountain to climb as Symes stunned Spotland. The ball sat up nicely for the striker 25 yards out and he rifled a blockbusting volley over Arthur; a goal worthy of winning any game.

Dale were almost back in it straight away as Dagnall created space on the edge of the box to sting the hands of Dunbavin with a rising drive, but then Accrington could have ended the game altogether as Grant raced clear, turned inside Holness and was just about to shoot when Thompson produced a top notch tackle to nick the ball away as Grant was about to shoot. Symes was next to find acres inside the Dale box but he could only fire his finish straight at Arthur.

The home side pushed for a path back into proceedings late on, and Accrington had to survive six minutes of injury time when in the first of them Dagnall spun on the edge of the box and rifled a shot into the bottom corner, but this wasn't to be Rochdale's day with a sub-par performance and a professional one from Accrington gave the visitors a deserved three points.

Attendance: 3206

Rochdale: Arthur, McArdle (Wiseman 65), T. Kennedy, Holness, Dawson, J. Kennedy, Stevens, Whaley, Rundle (Thompson 56), Dagnall, O'Grady (Magna 56).
Subs (not used): Taberner, Stanton, Spencer, Flynn.

Accrington: Dunbavin, Kempson, Proctor, Joyce, Grant, Edwards, Ryan, Winnard, McConville (Kee 67), Symes, Lees.
Subs (not used): Martin, Turner, King, Murphy, Miles.

Booked: Edwards, Kempson, Symes.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 7 (4) Accrington 9 (7)
Free kicks: Rochdale 22 Accrington 12
Offside: Rochdale 5 Accrington 6
Corners: Rochdale 4 Accrington 4

Referee: R Booth.