Dagenham & Redbridge 0 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale made it 3 wins from 3 in 2011 with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge. Chris O’Grady netted the only goal of the game on 74 minutes when he slotted the ball through Mark Arbers legs and beyond the despairing dive of Daggers keeper Tony Roberts.

Dale boss Keith Hill made four changes to the side that beat Oldham on Monday. Tom Kennedy replaced the suspended Scott Wiseman whilst Josh Thompson got a rare start in a defensive midfield position. Nicky Adams and Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro also started. New signing Liam Dickinson had to make do with a place on the bench whilst fellow new boy Will Atkinson didn’t travel with the squad after suffering a slight hamstring strain last week playing for Rotherham.

On a bitterly cold afternoon in Essex, the home side were the quickest out of the trap with Tomlin heading towards goal after just 25 seconds but Lillis blocked with his chest with Dawson doing well to put pressure on the striker.

Rochdale were slow to get going on the heavy pitch and were lucky to have their goal intact when Elito flashed a free header well wide.

Josh Thompson, starting his first game since the beginning of October, was strong in his more forward role and almost hooked Dale into an eleventh minute lead but he couldn’t keep his shot down. Dawson used his tremendous passing range to set up Akpa-Akpro after sending a raking 50 yard pass over the home defence but the Frenchman lacked the finishing touch from outside the area.

Home keeper Tony Roberts pulled off a great save from Nicky Adams when he tipped a full bodied effort over the bar whilst Adams tried an acrobatic scissor kick but Roberts was comfortable.

As the first half neared its conclusion the home side piled on the pressure with a series of corners and long throws from the dangerous Green with Hill’s men unable to clear their lines. Dawson was brave when he put his head in the way of an Ogogo drive whilst it was all hands to the pump when the ball dropped in the Dale area but they scrambled clear. During the minute of added time, Bas Savage should have opened the scoring. Another deep ball was only punched by Lillis to the edge of the area where it was pumped in but Savage blazed wide from inside the 6 yard box with the goal gaping.

Rochdale manager gave new loan signing Liam Dickinson his debut at the start of the second period when the former Stockport striker replaced Akpa-Akpro. The change did little to stem the flow of Daggers attack but the Dale backline stood strong and withstood anything thrown their way. Marcus Holness was replaced on 62 minutes after picking up a slight thigh strain, Josh Thompson dropped back into the centre of defence with Matt Done entering the action.

John Still’s men are a handful at home and again piled on the pressure. Danny Green fired a 25 yard free kick into the wall whilst another long Green throw caused the Dale defence problems when home sub Marvin Morgan almost turned the ball towards goal but Tom Kennedy covered to snuff out the danger. Green again caused problems down the right with Lillis unsure when a cross nearly sneaked in at the near post. From the resultant corner, Doe sent his header over.

Rochdale had done well to withstand the home pressure and took the lead on 74 minutes through Chris O’Grady’s eighth goal of the season. Adams played the ball into the big number 19 who dragged his defender one way then the other before side-footing a shot into the far corner to send the 224 travelling fans into raptures.

With a one goal lead, Hill’s men were never really troubled in the latter stages and the game ended in victory for the visitors making it 9 points from 3 games in 2011 and their first clean sheet in 13 attempts, moving them up to 11th in League One, just 2 points outside the playoff places.

Keith Hill said: "When Marcus went off we had a bit of a makeshift side out there but the starting 11 was picked with Dagenham in mind. We know what to expect from them, they are honest but more than capable of putting you under pressure. It was an ugly game but we expected that and it was always a case of who would convert one of our chances.

"We came here with a game plan that meant we wouldn’t crumble under the pressure.

"Josh Thompson was superb. He’s an accomplished player, he’s educated and he will get his chance now with Marcus injured but away from home that system really worked well for us. He didn’t give the opposition space in areas of the pitch were we could have been vulnerable. It wasn’t a risk as we have been practising it in training and in the behind closed doors game against Leeds.

"Marcus has got a thigh strain which is unfortunate as he’s got a good partnership with Craig Dawson and they are developing into a League One central defensive partnership.

"We are short on numbers if I’m being honest as we could only name 4 outfield players on the bench and now with Marcus’ injury we are short and need to get players in. All of our defenders were on the pitch today at the start of the game.

"Liam Dickinson is a threat but he needs games to get back to where he was when playing for Stockport. He is work in progress for me and has to earn his right to start.

"Super finish from Chris O’Grady but it’s a shame his goals are coming in January, I’ll be expecting phone calls from opposition manager’s trying to acquire his services but he isn’t for sale."

 

Dagenham & Redbridge 0 - 1 Rochdale (O’Grady 74) 

Rochdale: Lillis, T Kennedy, Dawson, Holness (Done 62), Josh Thompson, Widdowson, Adams, Jones (C), Akpa-Akpro (Dickinson 46), J Kennedy, O’Grady

Subs (not used): Edwards, Barry-Murphy, Joe Thompson,


Oldham Athletic: Roberts, Doe, Arber (C), Green, Tomlin (Currie 79), Savage (Morgan 65), Ogogo, Vincelot, Ilesanmi, Gain, Elito (Scott 65)

Subs (not used): Lewington, McCrory, Nurse, Bingham

Attendance: 1948 (224 away)

Referee: Mr G Hegley 
Assistant Referees: Mr L Betts and Mr G Evetts
Fourth official: Mr M Stewart