Rochdale 2-3 Charlton

Rochdale 2-3 Charlton

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Rochdale failed to extend their unbeaten run while Charlton extended their winning streak on the road after victory at Spotland.

Rochdale manager Steve Eyre kept faith with the side that beat Scunthorpe united and in the end his Rochdale side could certainly say they were unlucky to come away from the game with nothing in terms of points.

With seven minutes played Rochdale almost opened the scoring after Pim Balkestein' s bullet header was clawed off the line by 'keeper Ben Hamer as Dale looked to take the early initiative.

The home side had the best of the opening exchanges though chances for either side in the early part of the game where few and far between.

With 18 minutes played David Ball turned superbly well in the middle of the park to bring a chance for Ashley Grimes but his shot was blocked just inside the box.

Two minutes later Charlton did open the scoring and it was certainly against the run of play. However, a great cross from Jackson found the head of the Danny Hollands and he made no mistake from close range.

Charlton from that point took control of the game maintaining the tempo and the pressure on the home side. The visitors look to heap more misery on Dale but Eyre's side despite being pinned back held firm.

With half an hour gone Rochdale began to get back in the game and Jason Kennedy looked to win his side a penalty after going over in the box, but referee Mr Rushton felt the Rochdale midfielder had made the most of the situation and some, awarding a freekick to the visitors and a yellow card for Kennedy.

Kennedy was almost involved four minutes later after Ashley Grimes' perfectly weighted chip from the left flank looked destined to be met by the Rochdale midfielder. However, Wiggins decided to get in front of Kennedy and alter the passage of the ball thus scuppering Dale's effort to get back into the game.

After defending so astutely at one end, Wiggins turned poacher after a lucky break for the visitors inside the Dale box.

Just before the break Wiggins made it two for the visitors after a cross from the left pinged around the box before finding Wiggins' feet and he finished with a low shot into the bottom corner.

Dale started the second half well with two chances inside the first two minutes of the re-start. The first fell to Gary Jones from the left wing but he dragged his centrally placed effort wide of the mark.

A minute later Jason Kennedy volleyed from the edge of the box from a quickly taken corner but his sights also needed setting as his effort too went wide of the mark.

Charlton almost did what they did in the first half by scoring against the run of play after a strong header from Taylor from a corner was headed off the line by Joe Widdowson.

With 52 minutes played Charlton looked to craft another opportunity to stretch their lead after good work by Bradley Wright-Phillips on the edge of the box. The former Man City man found Jackson wide on his left but the Addick's skipper could only find the side netting.

If Rochdale were going to get anything out of the game they needed to find a goal quickly and just five minutes later Dale did manage to grab a lifeline after Ashley Grimes steered his header over the 'keeper from a Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro cross.

Backed by the crowd at Spotland that certainly found its voice once more Eyre's men surged forward and were again rewarded some three minutes later. David Ball somehow managed to find a gap amongst three defenders inside the box to get his body into before finding an even smaller gap to squeeze the ball home past Hamer.

The comeback was complete with regard to getting on terms and the question now was could Rochdale go on to win the game? Sadly those thoughts lasted 20 minutes as Charlton regained their lead once again from a right wing corner that was met at close range by Danny Hollands who headed his second of the game at the back stick.

Rochdale certainly piled on the pressure at the end but the visitors hung on after Ball saw his header cleared off the line by substitute Cort.