Leyton Orient 2-1 Rochdale

Rochdale went down 2-1 against Leyton Orient after a controversial penalty three minutes into the second levelled the score after Chris O'Grady had given Hill's men the lead on the stroke of half time. Nicky Adams was penalised when he tangled with Dean Cox inside the box and Ben Chorley slotted home from 12 yards. Cox himself then won the game with a great finish after being teed up by former Dale target Stephen Dawson.

Keith Hill made one change to the side that beat Dagenham last weekend with Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro ruled out through injury, Anthony Elding replacing. Youngster Reece Gray got a place on the bench.

A tentative start by both teams meant chances were few and far between in the opening 15 minutes, although Dale looked the team in control.

The first shot in anger came from Dale when Kennedy's shot was charged down and the ball found Adams, but his shot easily gathered by Butcher in the Oreint goal.

Barry-Murphy's set pieces were causing Orient one or two problems and a deep free kick on 25 minutes was flicked on by O'Grady but Elding's shot was blocked.

At the other end Orient looked at their most dangerous on the counter attack. The best chance of the opening exchanges came from one such break. Matt Spring's deep cross was met by Revell with Lillis in no mans land, but the big number 11's effort was off target when he should have scored.

Rochdale's passing game was a delight to watch at times with Wiseman, Adams and Kennedy linking up well on the half hour. Quick incisive passing made room for Wiseman to cross from the right and his ball in was almost deflected into his own net by Omozusi.

Chris O'Grady had a chance to break the deadlock when he made space just inside the box but his side-footed effort lacked the pace required and Butcher gleefully gathered.

The Dale striker wasn't to be denied for long though, as half time approached Barry-Murphy put a delightful floated ball into the area that evaded the home defence and found the unmarked O'Grady, who had read the ball well and peeled away from his marker before sending a cushioned volley beyond Butcher - cue 362 travelling supporters in raptures.

The late goal in the first half for Dale lifted Hill's men but that jubilation was short-lived due to referee Kevin Wright. A ball across the face of the Dale goal wasn't dealt with by Barry-Murphy, who lost out to former Bury team mate Stephen Dawson. The Orient captain slammed the ball back towards Cox on the edge of the box who tangled with Adams and theatrically dropped to the ground. To the amazement of nearly everybody in the ground, the official pointed to the spot despite Dale protests. Defender Ben Chorley stepped up to slot the ball beyond the despairing dive of Lillis to level the score.

As the saying goes, goals change games and that spot kick certainly buoyed the home side.

Cox was again at the heart of an Orient attack when he beat Widdowson down the right and fizzed a wicked ball into the 6 yard box that Lillis parried with Barry-Murphy on hand to mop up the danger.

The game then went into a bit of a lull until the home side edged in front on 66 minutes. Stephen Dawson flicked a ball into the path of Cox who had got in between the Dale centre backs to slot the ball past Lillis to complete the turn around.

The home side really had their tails up and Craig Dawson had to be on his toes in the Dale defence to clear after Daniels had beaten Wiseman and Kennedy to bear down on goal.

Daniels again had sight of goal when he powered a free kick from 20 yards just over.

The Dale boss made a triple change as he tried in vain to get his side back on terms. On came Matt Done, Joe Thompson and Reece Gray to replace Widdowson, Elding and Barry-Murphy. The change did stem the Orient flow, with Dale having some attacking play as the home side sat deep.

Joe Thompson had a couple of opportunities to cross but Orient stood firm.

In the final 10 minutes, Dale saw lots of the ball but couldn't break down the defensive wall of red shirts.

Revell had the chance to put the game beyond Dale as the clock ticked down when he raced away down the left but Lillis was quick off his line to narrow the angle and block the danger.

The referee showed 5 minutes of added time which gave the visitors hope.

With time running out Rochdale had a couple of half chances but Thompson's header went straight at Butcher whilst O'Grady fired a shot over the bar.

In the end it was the decision by the official 3 minutes into the second half that was the main talking point and as Kevin Wright blew for full time, the Dale manager tried to speak to Wright but the man in the middle refused to talk and Hill was forced to retreat.

It was tough luck on Rochdale who lost out in a real game of two halves. The first half Dale dominated but the second half was edged by the home side, mainly aided by the controversial penalty decision.

Keith Hill speaking after the game said: "The only person in the whole stadium who thought it was a penalty was the referee, their bench didn't think it was, their fans didn't think it was but I’ve got to bite my tongue as we all know that the powers that be will judge me on the comments I make to referee's.

"I wish that the media had access to the referee to explain their performance instead of leaving it to managers and players.

"It’s unfortunate that from my position I am so deflated on the back of a really good performance. I find it very difficult to accept we have been beaten today.

"Great goal from Chris (O'Grady), great performance but decisions change games, they change momentum and I can't legislate for the type of decision that has allowed Leyton Orient to win that game.

"I made the triple change but they defended deep and it makes it very difficult to unlock the door.

"I really feel there was an injustice today. When you go up in leagues you expect better standards (in officials) but we haven't seen that.

"If the Orient fans are honest with themselves they will agree that there has been an injustice here today.

"Sometimes the result fudges over and tells a different story to what actually happened. I thought we were well worthy of a result today but instead we on the wrong end of a 2-1 score. Today’s result is really misleading."

Leyton Orient 2-1 Rochdale
Chorley 48 (p) O'Grady 45
Cox 66

Att:4880 (362 away)

Rochdale: Lillis, Wiseman, Holness, Dawson, Widdowson (Joe Thompson 71), Adams, Barry-Murphy (Gray 71), Elding (Done 71), Jones (c), Kennedy, O'Grady
Subs (not used): Edwards, Goodall, Josh Thompson, Flynn

Leyton Orient: Butcher, Omozusi, Chorley, Forbes, Cox (Chambers 79), Dawson (c), Revell (Tehoue 90+5), Daniels, Jarvis (Walker 59), Spring, Smith
Subs (not used): Jones, Whing, Brown, Cestor

Referee: Kevin Wright
Assistant Referees: Andy Laver & John Farries
Fourth Official: Dave Bushell