Rochdale 0-2 Tranmere Rovers

Rochdale 0-2 Tranmere Rovers

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Rochdale slipped further behind the safety barrier with a 2-0 home defeat to a rejuvenated Tranmere. A goal in each half settled the game as Dale went down with hardly a whimper.

After beating Oldham in the local derby on Saturday, the home fans were optimistic of a positive result against a side still with one eye over their shoulder at the bottom 4. Coleman was forced into one change from the weekend with Stephen Darby suffering a bruised heel; Phil Edwards stepped in at left back.

Dale started the game brightly and but for some excellent defending could have been 1 up inside 2 minutes. Obadeyi cut out a cross field pass and picked out Grimes whose shot was deflected over with Fon Williams seemingly beaten.

That chance was the wakeup call that Ronnie Moore’s side needed. Midfielder James Wallace was a thorn in the Dale side and the on loan Everton man opened the scoring just before the half hour mark. Jason Kennedy was guilty of napping and was caught in possession with Wallace picking up the loose ball and curling a tremendous effort beyond the dive of Lucas.

The Dale midfield was second best to everything which invited pressure on the back four. A deep freekick from the visitors was headed just over by Showumni as Coleman’s side were happy to reach the break just 1 goal down.

There needed to be marked improvement from Dale in the second half and Coleman rang the changes. Nicky Adams and Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro were introduced with Ashley Grimes and Temitope Obadeyi making way.

The change had little effect from the first half in the opening moments after the restart. Wallace forced a good stop from Lucas with the ball squirming under the keeper’s body but Long got back to clear.

Rochdale then started to make an impact on the game. Gary Jones sent a ferocious 20 yard freekick towards goal but a deflection sent it crashing against the post.

Andrew Tutte has been in fine form since gaining a starting berth and good work from him set up Akpa-Akpro but his first time shot on the turn hit the side netting.

The Frenchman was starting to turn the game in Dale’s favour but the elusive goal wasn’t forthcoming. A great bit of skill on the edge of the area gave him space but he opted to pass rather than shoot and the chance went begging.

Tutte saw 3 long range efforts dip just the wrong side of the crossbar whilst Jones’ first time drive had a similar outcome. Goodison blocked an Adams shot as Dale looked to get back on level terms.

With the home side on top, it was against the run of play when Tranmere got their second. Substitute Cassidy had only been on the field for 4 minutes when his shot deflected up off Long and past Lucas to end the game as a contest.

It could have got worse for Dale when Long’s back-pass to Lucas fell short with Robinson picking up. The winger unselfishly picked out Akin but Long raced back to block the former Dale trialists shot.

It now means Rochdale are 5 points from safety with just 8 games remaining. The Dale manager admitted his side have got a mountain to climb but they won’t be throwing in the towel until its mathematically impossible to avoid the drop back to League 2.


Att: 2618

Rochdale: Lucas, Jordan, P Edwards, Long, Holden, Jones (C), Obadeyi (Adams 46), Kennedy, Grimes (Akpa-Akpro 46) Tutte, Symes

Subs (not used): M Edwards, Widdowson, Barry-Murphy

Tranmere Rovers: Fon Williams, Buchanan, Goodison, Taylor, Holmes, Akins, Welsh (C), Wallace, Robinson, Showumni (Backayogo 67), Brunt (Cassidy 78)

Subs (not used): Coughlin, Labadie, Weir

Referee: Mr N Miller
Ass Referee: Mr S Stockbridge
Mr R Wootton
4th Official: Mr I Siddall