Charlton Athletic 1-1 Rochdale

Rochdale earned a valuable point away at the League leaders Charlton. Nicky Adams gave John Coleman’s side the lead after a flowing move which he started himself. The lead only lasted 3 minutes after Kevin Long was adjudged to have felled Jan Kermorgant with the striker dusting himself down to slam home the free-kick.

Dale made 2 changes to the side that beat Bournemouth on Saturday. Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro missed out through injury with Michael Symes getting his first start since his loan move from Bournemouth. Stephen Jordan started ahead of Ashley Grimes as Coleman opted for a 4-5-1 formation.

Charlton started the game the brighter with Bradley Wright-Phillips missing a guilt edged chance on 9 minutes. A ball in from the right picked out the former Manchester City striker but he missed his shot from 7 yards. Wright-Phillips went close moments later but his curling effort went inches wide.

Gary Jones saw his shot deflected wide for a corner and the Addicks defence was stretched when Kennedy whipped in a ball that was cleared from under his own crossbar by Pritchard.

Nicky Adams was a threat throughout and when he had the beating of left back Evina he pulled the ball back but Hamer in the home goal pushed the ball away with no blue shirt following up.

The home side started the second period as they started the first but the Dale defence stood firm and they tried to hit Charlton on the break.

One such break resulted in the opening goal. Adams stole the ball on the halfway line before releasing Jones down the right. The skipper squared the ball back to Adams who just about made contact to send the ball off a defender and over the line.

With home fans silenced Charlton were given a lifeline by an assistant referee 3 minutes later. A diagonal ball into the area was cleared by the Dale backline but the assistant flagged for a foul by Long. Kermorgant clinically dispatched the free kick giving Kurucz no chance.

The home side sensed they had the impetus and went for their visitors. Former Rochdale loanee Dale Stephens went close with a long range drive whilst Kurucz saved well from Pritchard header.

The Dale keeper was again called into action when a corner was swung in with Kurucz making 2 point blank saves as Charlton tried to force the issue. Pritchard went close as the clock struck 90 but Dale held firm for a magnificent away point.

Coleman said: “I’m really pleased with the effort they showed, I’m pleased with every one of them. We have stressed to the lads that they need to expect more of themselves. They shouldn’t look at themselves as a small side. We have some quality players and they should expect more of themselves and each other. We didn’t come here to ‘park the bus’ but at the same time we had to accept that Charlton are a very good side and aren’t at the top of the lead b a considerable margin by fluke. I thought we passed very well and kept the ball away from them. It doesn’t matter how the ball goes in. The move was a good move but we did that all game. There is only one person in the ground who thought it was a foul (by Long for the free-kick which led to the goal) and that was the linesman. It was a big crowd and when they don’t even appeal for a freekick it was a surprise when the linesman flagged. It was a great strike by the lad don’t get me wrong but I don’t feel it should have been given in the first place.”


Rochdale: Kurucz, Darby, Amankwah, Long, Widdowson, Jordan, Jones ( C), Kennedy, Barry-Murphy, Adams (Thomson 82), Symes

Subs (not used): Lucas, Grimes, Tutte, Holden

Charlton: Hamer, Evina (Cort 82), Morrison, Taylor (C ), Green (Wagstaff 65), Stephens, Wright-Phillips (Clarke 72), Wiggins, Pritchard, Hollands, Kermorgant

Subs (not used): Sullivan, Hayes

Referee: Mr F Graham
Ass Referee: Mr C Lymer & Mr J Magill
4th Official: Mr R Hyde