Walsall 0 - 0 Rochdale

Walsall 0 - 0 Rochdale
Joe Widdowson chased by Richard Taundry

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Rochdale stretched their unbeaten run to 11 matches after this lacklustre 0-0 draw against Walsall.

Keith Hill made 1 change to the side that beat Sheffield Wednesday a fortnight ago with Matt Done replacing Will Atkinson who dropped to the bench.

In a stiff breeze, it was the home side that settled into the game better, with Hill’s charges looking a little ring rusty after last weekend’s postponement.

Julian Gray was the first to test the Dale backline when he sent a teasing left wing ball in that Dawson misjudged; his glancing touch took the ball towards Price but the former Doncaster striker couldn’t connect.

With the wind assist in the first half, Walsall used Richard Taundry’s long throw to good effect whenever they could, but the Dale defence stood strong.

One such throw was cleared by Holness with Price firing a first time effort straight back but Fon Williams caught comfortably.

Taundry had a bullet header saved by Fon Williams, whilst Griggs saw his weak shot saved after Dawson again misjudged the flight of a long ball.

Griggs again had sight of goal after a neat Nicholls lay off but the young strikers shot was poor.

The closest Walsall came to breaking the deadlock was in first half stoppage time. Matt Richards drilled a 20 yard free kick but the wall did its job and he sent the rebound back towards goal but it drifted onto the roof of the net.

It had a been a very poor first half for Rochdale but the second half started much brighter for Hill’s men.

Matt Done was at the heart of most of Dale’s attacking play but three minutes into the second period he couldn’t quite divert an Adams cross home and the ball squirmed wide for a corner.

Done really should have opened the scoring moments later when he met a pin point Gary Jones cross from the right but the his diving header from seven yards lacked direction and Walker in the Walsall goal wasn’t tested.

Jones went from provider to attacker when he picked up an O’Grady reverse pass but Walker got down smartly denying the Dale skipper.

Jason Kennedy had a guilt edged chance on 77 minutes but he headed straight at Walker from six yards out.

It wasn’t a performance that we have come to expect from Rochdale but in difficult conditions it was a well deserved point and it’s a point that lifts Hills men up one place to ninth.

Dale manager Keith Hill spoke after the game: "I’m happy with the clean sheet as I thought we were awful in the first half.

"Perhaps there was a little bit of arrogance creeping into the squad and staff.

"When you go on unbeaten runs like this it’s difficult to keep a lid on confidence turning into arrogance.

"We knew what to expect coming here, the manager has got them well organised as they are fighting for their lives.

"We have to win the individual battles and we didn’t do that.

"We were awful first half but we kept the clean sheet and in the second half I thought we were the better side.

"Matty Done had a couple of good chances, Gary Jones and Jason Kennedy too.

"On reflection I will accept a draw was a fair result, even though we had the better of the opportunities and maybe could have won it, but I think that would have been unfair on Walsall.

"We lost the momentum with having the game called off last week and it showed as it was a rusty first half, the second half was a lot better.

"Something needs to be sorted with regards to the pitch, we are missing out. We want to be playing games when other teams are playing; we were the only game called off last weekend.

"Marcus Holness was outstanding again and he is outstripping my expectations of him, but the wheels have got to keep turning and he can’t rest on his laurels. He has to keep a lid on his confidence so that it doesn’t turn into arrogance.

"I think the lads will have a relax this week with the midweek games starting after next week. The lads need to get out of their system all what they need to and maybe do any socialising this weekend because there won’t be any socialising once the games start coming thick and fast."

Attendance: 3830 (662 away)

Rochdale: Fon Williams, Widdowson, Dawson, Holness, Wiseman, Jones (c), J Kennedy (Dickinson 82), Barry-Murphy, Done, Adams (Atkinson 72), O'Grady. 
Subs (Not Used): Edwards, Josh Thompson, Akpa-Akpro, R Williams, Gray

Walsall: Walker, Lescott, Lancashire, Richards, Nicholls (Marshall 88), Taundry, Gray, Grigg (Paterson 62), Price (Byfield 74), Williams, Butler (c).
Subs (not used): Westlake, McDonald, Smith, Marshall, Bevan

Referee: Mr G J Sutton
Assistant Referees: Mr A D Hutchinson and Mr G C Law
Fourth Official: Mr N Hobbis