Posh win increases Parkin’s problems

Rochdale 0
Peterborough United 1 (McLean 73)

How much pressure is on Rochdale manager Steve Parkin after yet another home defeat? A tough question to answer in a week where the board have given him their full support despite Tuesday’s loss to ten-man Macclesfield, certain sections of the Spotland faithful have chanted for his head, whilst others offer their allegiance. In the midst of all which came the encounter against League Two play-off contenders Peterborough United, a luckless game for the home side, in which they more than warranted a share of the spoils and ended up with nothing.

It was ironic that five minutes after the ‘Parkin out’ cries beginning, with the game still goalless and Rochdale looking threatening, Peterborough scored the only goal of the game. It came thanks to the first occasion in the fixture that visiting striker Aaron McLean got the better of Dale defender Rory McArdle, turning him inside the box, and the first piece of questionable goalkeeping from Matthew Gilks, as McLean slammed in his shot at the near post.

In the first half Gilks had made two top draw saves to keep his side level as they looked slow and nervous out of the starting blocks. Both came from headers; First McLean got a flick to Danny Crow’s clever free-kick and Gilks tipped the ball round the post and then the Rochdale keeper denied Trevor Benjamin from near point-blank range after another free kick.

After the early scares in which Rochdale had to survive the set pieces, long throws and general aerial pressure, they got more and more into the game as it wore on and emerged much the better side going into the break.

Only the referee will know why Chris Dagnall’s penalty claims were waved away after the Rochdale front man was ruthlessly hacked down by Mark Arber. The home side had other chances as Dagnall had his close range effort blocked after good work by foraying full-back Gary Brown and Gary Jones had two goal bound attempts denied, one blocked and the other superbly tipped round his post by Posh keeper Mark Tyler. The closest Dale came however, was when visiting defender Ben Futcher deflected Alan Goodall’s cross agonisingly wide.

The chances continued to come and go in the second half, the best falling to Dagnall after more good Rochdale football. William Mocquet fed the striker, leaving only Tyler to beat but the keeper was out quickly to block Dagnall’s strike. However, this was one of few times in which the visiting keeper was tested in the second half, as Dale, as on Tuesday night, struggled to make their pressure and possession count for something meaningful and they were cruelly punished when McLean struck.

It was backs to the wall for Boro but it was not until injury time that Tyler was once more called into action as he got in the way of John Doolan’s superbly struck volley which would have been in had it not been straight at the keeper. This after more penalty claims as Craig Morgan clambered all over Rochdale substitute Morike Sako.

Rochdale are now only out of the relegation zone thanks to superior goal difference and it does not get any easier with upcoming consecutive away games at Hartlepool United and MK Dons; points are essential, not just in what is now a definite battle for survival, but also, possibly, for Steve Parkin’s future as manager.

Attendance: 1,982

Rochdale: Gilks, Brown, Goodall, Stanton, McArdle, Mocquet, Jones, Doolan, Warburton (Rundle 75), Dagnall, Murray (Sako 76).
Subs Not Used: Crooks, Moyo-Modise, Barker.

Booked: Warburton, Stanton.

Peterborough United: Tyler, Holden, Futcher, Morgan, Arber, Huke, Butcher, Stirling (Gain 60), Crow, Benjamin (Smith 72), McLean (Turner 90).
Subs Not Used: Ghaichem, Opara.

Booked: Futcher, McLean, Arber.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 12 (8) Peterborough 11 (7)
Free kicks: Rochdale 22 Peterborough 17
Offside: Rochdale 0 Peterborough 8
Corners: Rochdale 6 Peterborough 7

Referee: R L Shoebridge