Rochdale 0 - 1 Burton Albion

Rochdale’s indifferent start to the season continued as they lost 1-0 to Burton Albion.

The visitors were the better side for the most part and took the lead through Matt Paterson sevenminutes into the second half.

Dale boss John Coleman made three changes from the side that beat Barnet last Saturday. Peter Cavanagh returned from injury whilst Ray Putterill & Bobby Grant earned starting berths ahead of Ashley Grimes and George Donnelly.

Josh Lillis returned to the keepers spot after being rested in midweek and had to be in top form to deny a Burton side searching for their first win of the season.

Former Dale defender Marcus Holness couldn’t believe he hadn’t scored when he volleyed a corner goalward from eight yards but Lillis somehow managed to divert the ball over the bar.

Bobby Grant almost gave Dale the lead but his effort curled just wide.

Machoma forced another good save from Lillis with a sweet volley with that miss starting a good spell from Coleman’s men.

Grant forced Tomlinson into a smart save from a free kick whilst Tutte flashed one over from distance.

Adebola used his size to hold off two defenders and play in Putterill but the wingers shot was blocked.

Kennedy’s well worked corner almost paid dividends but the former Darlington midfielder saw his shot well saved.

Dale almost took the lead in first half stoppage time when Putterill’s volley was heading towards goal but Adebola; who was lay prone inside the area after a collision with a defender inadvertently blocked the shot.

Burton looked much the better side in the second half with Dale providing very little as an attacking threat.

The only goal of the game came on 52 minutes. Burton were lucky not to be flagged offside in the build up but once the assistant hadn’t deemed Paterson’s presence as interfering, the home side should have defended better. A ball into the area was well held up by Zola who in turn fed Paterson with the striker curling the ball beyond Lillis.

Rochdale huffed and puffed but even with five strikers on at the end couldn’t break through.

Lillis had to be alert with ten minutes remaining when he smothered a Machoma chance whilst visiting striker Cleveland Taylor hit a post with a mis-placed cross.

Dale need to dust themselves down from this defeat as they head tp Wimbledon next weekend needing a win to lift themselves away from the bottom of the table.

Att: 2199

Rochdale:Lillis, Pearson, R Edwards, P Edwards, McIntyre, Kennedy (Grimes 66), Cavanagh (c (Curran 82)), Tutte, Putterill (Donnelly 78), Adebola, Grant

Subs: (not used)Rafferty, Bennett, Barry-Murphy, Smith

Burton: Tomlinson, McCrory, Diamond (c), Holness, O’Connor, MacHoma, Weir, Bell, Palmer (Dyer 9), Zola (Richards 88), Paterson (Taylor 71)

Subs: (not used) Atkins, Corbett, Webster, Stanton

Referee: Mr A Haines
Assistant Refs: Mr B Cropp & Mr O Yates
Fourth Official: Mr I Siddall