Bournemouth 1 - 2 Rochdale

Bournemouth v Rochdale
Matthew Done

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Rochdale ended the season in victory after coming from behind to beat Playoff bound Bournemouth at Dean Court. Matt Done’s sweet strike on 35 minutes cancelled out Pearce’s opener and Reece Gray came off the bench to net the winner with 10 minutes remaining when he met a Nicky Adams cross.

Keith Hill named 3 changes from the side that drew with Peterborough last weekend. Gary Jones and Chris O’Grady returned to the starting 11 whilst Will Atkinson got the nod. Jason Kennedy and Craig Dawson both missed out through injury so Brian Barry-Murphy and Josh Thompson started.

With a near capacity crowd inside Dean Court in celebratory mood, the home side looked to enter the playoff’s on the back of a win but it was Keith Hill’s side that were quickest out of the blocks. Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro had the chance to open the scoring when he tried to lift the ball over Jalal in the Cherries goal but didn’t get enough height and the keeper caught.

It took until the quarter hour mark for the home side to threaten and they went mighty close with their first corner. Anton Robinson swung over a corner which was met by Jason Pearce but the big centre half saw his header hit the outside of the upright.

That should have been a warning shot to Hill’s men but it was one that they didn’t heed. Another left wing corner caused confusion in the Dale box and the ball looped up off a combination of Pearce and Josh Thompson and looped over Fon Williams and into the net.

The Cherries looked comfortable and pressed forward with Feeney forcing a block off Holness whilst Fon Williams denied Steve Lovell when he was quick to close down the striker who had beaten the offside trap.

One of Dale’s most lethal weapons this season has been the quick counter attack and within seconds of Lovells chance Hill’s men were level. Matt Done picked up mid way inside the Cherries half, pushed the ball forward before passing the ball beyond the outstretched arm of Jalal.

Hill made one change at half time with Joe Thompson replacing Akpa-Akpro. Lee Bradbury’s side came out for the second half and from the whistle went in search of a second goal. Robinson saw his shot pushed away by Fon Williams and when the Dale stopper was beaten moments later, an offside flag denied Lovell.

O’Grady went close with a header from an Adams cross in a rare Dale attack.

Lovell hit the side netting and Smith was thwarted by Fon Williams as was Robinson when well placed.

With 16 minutes left, O’Grady was replaced by first year pro Reece Gray for only his second first team appearance and the product of the Dale youth system didn’t take long to make a name for himself. Just 6 minutes after coming on, Gray headed Hill’s team ahead. Nicky Adams found space down the right and picked out Gray who sent a powerful header beyond Jalal for his first ever senior goal.

It was a good end to what has been a fantastic season for Keith Hill and his team and a 9th place finish equals Rochdale’s highest ever League finish from the 1969\70 season.

The Dale manager has now got some difficult decisions to make as a number of players, including Fon Williams, Matt Done and Gary Jones are out of contract. Hill has also got to find a replacement for Craig Dawson whose loan spell from West Bromwich Albion is now over.

Plans are already in place for next season as League One beckons once again for the Spotland outfit and if they can emulate this season, we will be in for another cracking 10 months.

Keith Hill said: “68 Points, 18 wins, 14 draws, 14 losses I think it’s been a remarkable season. From being relegation favourites, we have stuck to our principles as to the way we have played we have established a very good League One side but we have to progress next season.

“A lot of accolades have got to go to the players but also to the unsung heroes in the background. Flicker (Dave Flitcroft), Jon Lucas, Guy Proctor, Andy Thorpe, Ian Wilcox and the others who work behind the scenes to give the players the best opportunities they can to perform. Unfortunately we were found wanting just short of the playoffs but I do feel that the teams that are in the playoff’s do deserve to be in them and I wish them all the best.

“Over the next couple of weeks I will reflect and maybe be able to pick out my highlights of the season. The players came into this game knowing the importance of trying to emulate the team from 1969/70 in finishing higher than 9th. We were unfortunate that we didn’t manage to do that but out points total of 68 is incredible when we were told we would need 51 to survive.

“If I really had to choose now then Southampton away 2-0 and Southampton home 2-0 are real stand out’s for me. Matt Done’s goal was great but Bournemouth put us under a lot of pressure and after they scored I thought they might have pushed us a bit harder for a second but once we got the equaliser, we had to withstand some pressure.

“We didn’t create too many chances but we got a goal on the counter attack. It was a great header from Reece and a great ball in. Reece Gray will develop into a very good footballer but let’s be right; he is 6 stone wet through. He will turn out to be a very good number 10 or number 9 goal scoring player. We have to be very careful that we don’t push him too hard; he will turn out to be a good player maybe when he is 21/22.

“We know the direction we want to take this squad so we have some decisions to make but they aren’t personal. The players know why we have to make certain decisions. We have a plan and with that plan there will be casualties which some people may not think are the right casualties.”

Attendance: 9005

Rochdale: Fon Williams, Widdowson, Holness, Josh Thompson, Wiseman, Done, Jones (c), Barry-Murphy, Atkinson (Adams 62), O’Grady (Gray 74), Akpa-Akpro (Joe Thompson 46)

Subs (not used): Edwards, Flynn, Williams

Bournemouth: Jalal, Smith (Purches 81), Cooper, Pearce (c), Wiggins, Robinson, Lovell (Fletcher 81), McDermott (Williamson 44), Pugh, Feeney, Hollands

Subs (not used): Thomas, Arter, Molesley, Cummings

Referee:    G Ward
Assistant Refs:    T Robinson & D Bushell
4th Official:    A Davies