Rochdale 2 - 2 Peterborough United

Rochdale 2 - 2 Peterborough United
Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro salutes the crowd having scored Dale's opener within 13 seconds!

29 More Image(s) In Gallery

Craig Dawson netted a late equaliser for Dale in his last home appearance before heading off for the Premier League with West Brom. The defender turned a Joe Widdowson shot home from close range with 3 minutes remaining.

Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro gave Hill’s team a dream start against play-off bound Peterborough when he smashed home a poor Joe Lewis clearance after just 13 seconds.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing levelled in first half stoppage time and Lee Tomlin gave Peterborough the lead 2 minutes after the restart.

Defeat at Charlton on Monday meant Keith Hill’s side were no longer in the play-off race, meaning the Dale boss could shuffle his pack for this game against promotion chasing Peterborough. Hill gave Craig Dawson, Gary Jones and Chris O’Grady a break with Josh Thompson, Matt Done and Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro starting.

Rochdale couldn’t have asked for a better start when Akpa-Akpro smashed home after just 13 seconds. Peterborough defender Gabriel Zakuani played a difficult ball back to keeper Joe Lewis. Under no pressure you would expect the England U21 stopper to clear but he mis-kicked his clearance straight to Akpa-Akpro. The Frenchman took one touch before firing off the underside of the crossbar for his fourth of the season.

Hill’s team were by far the better team in the opening 25 minutes, with Matt Done almost doubling the lead. The striker picked up inside the Peterborough half and ran at Zakuani before cutting in and firing a powerful left footed drive that came back off the inside off the post.

Dale again tore the visiting defence apart when Captain for the day Scott Wiseman whipped a right wing cross but Joe Thompson couldn’t take and the ball squirmed wide.

Lee Tomlin got the visitors first real effort on goal after 22 minutes but Fon Williams saved and Tomlin went close again when he met a Wesoloski cross but he saw his header go wide.

Joe Thompson forced a fine save from Lewis when he saw his deflected shot pushed away whilst at the other end Wesolowski’s free-kick whistled over.

Deep into first half stoppage time, Peterborough drew level. A right wing corner was met by Mendez-Laing who powered a free header past Fon Williams.

After the blow of conceding so late in the first half, the pain was doubled  for Dale 2 minutes into the second half when Tomlin put the Peterborough into the lead. George Boyd’s run down the left sucked the home defence in and Boyd squared the ball for Tomlin to fire home.

Keith Hill threw Gary Jones and Chris O’Grady on in place of Kennedy and Joe Thompson.

Nicky Adams almost capitalised on a defensive slip but his curling shot was saved.

O’Grady almost levelled after getting on the end of a Fon Williams punt but the substitute’s shot was charged down with Zakuani brilliantly blocking Akpa-Akpro’s follow up shot.

The Frenchman turned provider moments later but O’Grady’s header was agonisingly over.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Hill replaced Adams with Craig Dawson. The Rochdale born defender came on to a standing ovation from the home faithful in his final home game in a Dale shirt.

With so much affection being shown to the defender it was fitting that he would get the equaliser.

Hill’s men pushed forward in numbers and when Widdowson jinked into the area his shot looked destined for the far corner but Dawson tapped home for his 11th of the season.

The celebrations looked like it was a goal that had sealed promotion but in reality it was a goal that the home fans knew meant a lot personally to the lad.

In the end the result was secondary as the players gave the supporters a lap of honour to celebrate what must be viewed as one of the most successful seasons in the clubs history. Relegation favourites back in August to play-off contenders 8 months later must be seen as a success.

Dawson went on a solo lap of honour to personally thank supporters, a task that saw him leave the field of play almost 30 minutes after his team mates. It was a fitting send off to a player who just 4 years ago was running on the Spotland pitch celebrating as a fan, his hometown club reaching the play-off final at Wembley.

Keith Hill spoke after the game: “We had a superb start and I thought for 25 minutes we dominated and then they started playing their game.

"They have excellent players and you have to back them in the play-offs. At times we couldn’t get the ball off them but we managed to create chances which may seem a bit strange.

"We ended up going back to what the locals want, 4-4-2, for the last 20 minutes and we got a goal! It was fitting that it was Craig Dawson.

"The lads have been superb all season so a lot of credit goes to the players for the way they responded to being relegation favourites. The manner in which they have taken that challenge and the way they have come through it means we will finish in the top 9.

"I want to be the most successful manager this club has ever had. I know I am already but I want it to be by us finishing above ninth place. I’m searching for more progression, I’m very ambitious for this football club and we have got to have a plan of improvement.

"We have fought relegation all season but we have done it from a top half position in the table.

"We have to guard against what has happened to Stockport and Wrexham and we have got to increase our potential to be successful by investing, and the Chairman is going to invest. The board of directors will back us with player recruitment.

"We have got a massive list of players but we also have an elite list of players that we want to add to the squad of players we have already got.

"We feel we don’t need to have a King’s ransom to gain success in this division.

"Look at the size of budgets of the teams that have gone down and it’s very scary.

"The club will give us the chance to invest in better players where and when we feel we need to.

"I will start to talk to the players that are out of contract this week, its difficult but players will be retained and players will be released."

On Craig Dawson, Hill said: “He is one outstanding player who will get the chance to play in the Premier League. He may have to step up into the Championship first but he will get his chance. He’s a future England International for me.

"The players have helped Craig Dawson and Craig has helped the other players."

Attendance: 3147

Rochdale: Fon Williams, Wiseman (c), Josh Thompson, Holness, Widdowson, Joe Thompson (O'Grady 51),  Kennedy (Jones 49), Adams (Dawson 75), Akpa-Akpro, Done.
Subs (not used): Edwards, Flynn, Williams, Atkinson

Peterborough United: Lewis, Zakuani, Lee, Wesoloski, Boyd, McCann (c), Mackail-Smith, Bennett, Whelpdale, Mendez-Laing (Davies 83), Tomlin (Ball 86). 
Subs (not used): Langmead, Frecklington, Taylor, Jones, Newall

Referee: Mr P Quinn
Assistant Referees: Mr D S Bond & Mr M S Perry
Fourth Official: Mr M Griffiths