Rochdale 2–1 Wycombe Wanderers

Dale came from behind to notch a first ever Spotland victory over Wycombe and ended a 3 game losing run in all competitions. Scott Donnelly gave the visitors a 6th minute lead but goals from Ashley Grimes either side of the break earned a fully deserved 3 points for Steve Eyre’s men.

The Dale boss made 3 changes to the side that lost to Nott’s County last weekend. Joe Widdowson was injured so Pim Balkestein moved out to the left of the defence with Stephen Darby regaining his right back berth. Joe Thompson and Nicky Adams started with Jason Kennedy and Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro dropping to the bench.

The home side made a positive start to the game, carving out two opportunities in the opening 5 minutes. David Ball forced a fine save from visiting stopper Bull when he met a pin point Darby cross but Bull got down low to save his header. Moments later and Darby again turned provider when his right wing cross found Adams whose goal bound volley deflected off Thompson and wide.

Just as the Dale fans were regaining their seats, Gary Waddock’s side took the lead with their first foray into Dale territory. Neat interplay from the visitors allowed Donnelly the time in the box to round Kean and slot home from an acute angle.

It was a bitter blow for Eyre’s men who had again gone behind after starting the game so well although the goal didn’t dishearten the home players too much as they responded well in search of the equaliser. Ball saw a right footed shot deflect wide whilst Grimes saw his hooked volley flash wide.

Dale got the leveller on 21 when Grimes finished off a great move down the left involving Jones, Ball and Adams. Some good passing made space for Grimes inside the area to curl beyond Bull for 1-1.

Eyre’s men were a constant threat to the Chairboys goal Balkestein sending a 30 yard shot agonisingly wide whilst Ball curled an 18 yard shot just past the post.

Wycombe had one chance of note in a poor opening 45 for them when Sandell saw his 25 yard free kick pushed away by Kean.

In unusually hot conditions for the first day in October, Dale started the second period much like they started the first and again Bull in the visiting goal had to be at his best to keep the score level. David Ball was again the man to be denied when Bull tipped over Balls volley.

Some of Rochdale’s football was a sight to behold but the eventual winner came courtesy of good old route one football. Jake Kean launched a long punt up field that bounced once on the edge of the opposition area and evaded the whole Wycombe back line but Grimes was alert enough to sneak in and lift the ball over the onrushing Bull and into the net.

The rest of the game was played out at a slower pace as the temperatures were still around 26c. Kean tipped over a Beavon looping header whilst Tutte’s 22 yard drive was straight at Bull but Dale saw out the remainder of the clock to lift themselves upto 17th in League One.

It was an important win for Eyre’s men against a team struggling in the opening part of the season and with games against other teams in and around the bottom half coming up, Dale could be in a far more healthier position by the end of the month if they play as well as they did today.

The Dale manager spoke afterwards: “We put more of a squeeze on the lads coming into this game. Without saying it was a must win game, we wanted to put pressure on those teams around us and give the supporters something to smile about. When we are in full flow we are almost unstoppable but we are seeing it too many times where we have to come from behind. Just before they scored David Ball did what he does best and got in between the defenders but the keeper has made a wonderful save, we were then thinking a goal for us must be on its way after another great start but we were a tiny but loose at the back and we were one down. It’s credit to the players that they keep coming back from being behind. At no point this season have we been rolled over and we have a positive mental strength. You always have a chance when you have a predator on the pitch like Ashley. We are delighted that Ashley has got the winner but we need him to work on his build up play. We will go again next week against Bournemouth, we will put this one to bed, we are happy with the win and we will have a better Saturday night than last week but we aren’t doing cartwheels or anything like that. We are in tomorrow to assess the lads and prepare for Walsall. I made a statement when I got the job that I want to compete in all competitions; we are going to be in there fighting whatever team goes out there. I speak to Keith Hill every week, he recognised that Joe Thompson hadn’t been starting but it was always my intention that he started today so I said to Keith that I will have to rebuff the offer (of sending him on loan to Barnsley) at this moment.”

Rochdale: Kean, Trotman, Holness, Balkestein, Darby, Jones (C ), Tutte, Grimes (Kennedy 84), Thompson (Akpa-Akpro 65), Ball, Adams (Barry-Murphy 76)

Subs (not used): Lucas, Twaddle

Wycombe Wanderers: Bull (C ), Foster, Sandell (McCoy 49), Johnson, Rowlands, Tunnicliffe, Grant (Ainsworth 59), Lewis (Benyon 72), Beavon, Donnelly, Harris

Subs (not used):Harding, Rendell

Referee: Mr M Heywood
Ass Referee: Mr A Holmes, Mr D Markham
4th Official: Mr M Griffiths