Rochdale 0-1 Leeds United

Rochdale lost their first game of pre-season when they went down 1-0 to Championship side Leeds United at Spotland. Max Gradel finished well to squeeze the ball beyond trialist goalkeeper Matt Duke in the Dale goal.

New Dale boss Steve Eyre picked a side with a mixture of new and old faces aswell as trialists in his first game in charge at Spotland. Matt Duke started between the sticks with new acquisitions Stephen Darby and Neal Trotman slotting into defence alongside Marcus Holness and Joe Widdowson. Trialist Jason Jarrett played a holding midfield role, Jason Kennedy and Gary Jones played down the middle. Ashley Grimes and fellow new boy Andrew Tutte played in free roles. Chris O’Grady played the lone striker role.

Simon Grayson’s Leeds side started the game the brighter of the two sides with Ross McCormack dragging a shot wide within the first 3 minutes and forcing a fine stop from Duke when well placed.

Andrew Tutte was at the heart of everything Dale did and when he played in O’Grady, the big striker slotted home, only to be denied by the officials flag. Tutte warmed the hands of Rachubka in the Leeds goal with a ferocious drive which the former Blackpool stopper spilled over the bar.

Chris O’Grady was replaced by Akpa-Akpro on 20 minutes after feeling a pain in his heal but the early prognosis is that he will be fit for Saturday’s trip to Wrexham.

Leeds scored the only goal of the game on the half hour mark when Max Gradel’s quick feet gave him the space to fire a low left footed shot beyond Duke.

Tutte again tested Rachubka but the keeper parried his effort wide.

The second half saw a total of 15 changes between the 2 teams which took the zip out of the game. Steve Eyre gave Nicky Adams, Reece Gray, Marc Twaddle and Simon Hackney runs out aswell as trialists Chris Doig and Paul Marshall.

Chances in after the changes were few and far between with Lewis Turner jinking his way into the Dale box but his shot was charged down by Trotman whilst Tutte and Adams’ interchanging passes opened up space but Tutte’s effort was an easy take for Cairns the substitute keeper for Grayson’s side.

Manager Steve Eyre, said: “There’s a lot to be pleased and not too much to be disappointed about. We don’t like losing and we don’t like not scoring but at the same time, everybody got minutes on the pitch and we are getting closer to Sheffield Wednesday (opening game of the season).

“We restricted Leeds to hardly any shots at goal really, they are a good side, and they passed it about. We worked it out that they had about 65 per cent possession which means it’s hard for us as we are doing a lot of chasing. But, for all their possession, it was based in their half and they didn’t really hurt us too much. I would have liked a little more retention from our lads, after working so hard to get the ball back I felt we could have kept it a little longer.

“Chris O’Grady was only going to play 45 minutes but he had to go off but he will be ok. In Andrew Tutte I thought we had the best player on the field. He was the one that put pressure on their goal but we have to share that around a bit. Matt Duke didn’t have that much to do, he kicked well, he gathered well and he organised well. We will have another look at him again on Saturday. Chris Doig will start at Wrexham, we are looking for experience and Chris has got that.”