Defensive Lincoln share the spoils

Rochdale 1 - 1 Lincoln

Keith Hill’s league leaders had to settle for a point against a very well organised Lincoln City at Spotland.

The visitors took a 27th minute lead when Chris Herd slotted past Dale keeper Fielding just before the half hour mark, but Dagnall’s 17th goal of the season 20 minutes from time earned a point for Rochdale who, despite immense second half pressure, couldn’t find a winner.

Rochdale started the brighter of  sides with Will Atkinson, playing the final game of his loan spell from Hull City, causing problems down the right. The winger drew a foul from Pearce but Dale couldn’t capitalise from the resultant free-kick.

Minutes later and the home side were again finding joy down the right when O’Grady managed to wriggle free; he sent a wonderful cross which looked destined for Dagnall’s head until defender Pearce got a flick to divert the ball away from the Dale striker.

The Imps first effort saw the much travelled Drew Broughton make a nuisance of himself in the Dale box when he set up Herd, who scuffed his shot wide when he should have at least hit the target.

The visitors grew in confidence as the half wore on and they got the break through with good movement around the edge of the box; Herd played in again but this time he slotted coolly passed Feilding from 8 yards to open the scoring.

Hill's men responded well to going behind and could have been back on level terms when leading scorer O’Grady flashed a shot across the face of goal after good work by Dagnall down the left.

Rochdale’s best chance of the half fell to Dagnall five minutes before the break. The diminutive scouser jinked his way through three challenges, all of which could have been given as fouls, but he managed to get his shot away from the edge of the area but Burch was equal and pushed it away. From the resultant corner, Burch again rescued the Imps when he tipped the ball away when it looked nailed on for Dawson to net his 12th of the season.

Whatever Keith Hill said at half time had the desired effect as the home side re-emerged from the tunnel like a team possessed.

Within 20 seconds of the re-start Dale had a left wing corner which was swung in by Tom Kennedy. Yet again Dawson was making a nuisance of himself and when the defence tried to clear, the ball appeared to hit the hand of an Imps player with huge appeals to the official for a penalty from players and supporters alike waved away.

That opening minute of the second period was to set the scene for the remaining 44 minutes as the game resembled a game of attackers versus defenders.

O’Grady’s cross from the left was again smothered by Burch in the Imps goal with Toner about to pounce, whilst Will Atkinson had a free header easily save by the keeper after a great cross from Toner.

O’Grady had a bending 18 yard effort saved by Burch whilst O’Grady, Jason Kennedy & Tom Kennedy all had shots sail over the Imps bar.

Keith Hill introduced Higginbotham just after the hour mark to add that extra bit of urgency as the visitors seemed to want to waste time at every opportunity.

Dale’s relentless pressure paid off with 20 minutes left on the clock. A deft flick from O’Grady found Dagnall in the box who, with his back to goal, turned between two Lincoln defenders to fire a shot goal-bound, that appeared to hit Joe Anderson and deflecting into the net.

With plenty of time left on the clock it seemed only a matter of time before Dale went on to claim the winner but the visiting defence stood resolute.

Higginbotham’s long range effort fizzed wide whilst a Dagnall header was deflected wide for one of the home side’s 17 corners.

Joe Thompson was introduced for the departing Atkinson with the local lad getting down the left flank with ease.

The final action of the game came in stoppage time when Tom Kennedy crossed for Dagnall but the striker was slightly ahead of the cross and couldn’t angle his header on target.

In the end a point gained against a well drilled Lincoln City side but with a tricky trip to Shrewsbury up next, Keith Hill’s side will hope for more luck in front of goal.

Keith Hill said after the game: “I think it was a point gained today.

"We played into the opposing team’s strategy in the first half, they dropped deep and we had too many negative passes in and around the back four and midfield area.

"We should have put Lincoln under a little bit more pressure early on but we got our game plan together in the second half and I feel they (Lincoln) deserved something out of the game for the way they set out their stall. They don’t have to come here and try and compete with us and win the match and from their prospective the way they used the tactics was excellent. The players on the pitch have got to realise that a little bit earlier.

"It’s not always going to be the same, when Rotherham came to compete they made the game quite simple for us with respect to them trying to chase three points where I think Lincoln were trying to steal three points”

“I thought they had a bank of 10 defenders at one point, if I’m being perfectly honest.

"They forced our players to come to the negative side to collect passes, which isn’t conducive to the way we want to play but I suppose we went a little more direct in the second half and played football higher up the pitch and put their back four under pressure.

"They were very well protected in the first half but they got the goal and their tactics worked a treat. 

Above all we are really pleased to have got something out of the game, everything cannot be carnival football and I thought the second half display was superb and I’m reasonably happy with a point.”

On having 17 corners Hill said: “I thought Drew Broughton did an excellent job on Dawson. He’s in there to do a job and at times we need to ignore Craig Dawson and go for other options.

"We had one or two opportunities from corners but they defended them well.

“I think they will be really pleased and we are relatively pleased with a point.

"I think the lads are a bit down because we are expected to win every game but we can’t do that and have to give respect to the opposition for the way they set themselves up.

“Will Atkinson has been exceptional player for us, he has the potential to be a top player and it’s just unfortunate that we cannot extend the loan (due to him having stayed the maximum 93 days allowed). We may look to bring somebody in to replace Will but we won’t be rushing into anything.”

Rochdale: Fielding, McArdle, Stanton, Dawson, T Kennedy, Jones, J Kennedy, Toner (Higginbotham 64), Atkinson (Thompson 82), Dagnall, O’Grady

Subs not used: Arthur, Wiseman, Flynn, Obadeyi, Taylor

Lincoln City: Burch, Hughton, Swaibu, Pearce, Anderson, Lennon, Kerr, Herd (Clarke 44), Saunders, Somma, Broughton (Connor 83)

Subs not used: Musselwhite, Hone, Gilmour, Oakes, Gordon

Attendance: 3453