Rochdale 0 - 0 Bradford City

Jason Kennedy gets his legs taken from under him
Rochdale v Bradford City

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Ten man Rochdale held on for a deserved point against Bradford City after Bobby Grant was shown a straight red card for a late lunge on former Dale defender Rory McArdle. Joe Rafferty cleared off the line late on as the Bantams piled on the pressure but Coleman’s men stood firm.

The build up to the game was all about former captain Gary Jones’ return to Spotland for the first time since his summer departure to Valley Parade but Dale’s record appearance holder missed the game through injury; not even attending the game.

The opening exchanges were a lively affair with Dale coming close inside 60 seconds. George Donnelly saw his powerful drive flash just wide whilst at the other end Lillis watched a Wells shot carefully but gathered well.

McArdle almost opened the scoring on his first return since leaving Spotland when he glanced a Hines freekick towards goal but Lillis saved.

The turning point of the game came on 35 minutes. A few ‘tasty’ challenges had gone in from both sets of players but in one passage of play, Bobby Grant was aggrieved at a heavy challenge but his reaction was to dive in with a two-footed challenge on McArdle. The vociferous travelling support just yards away, along with the reaction of a number of Bradford players, showed how bad the tackle was and referee had little choice but to show red. The whole incident saw ugly scenes on the sidelines too as the two managers went nose-to-nose as tempers flared.

The numerical advantage soon showed as Bradford piled on the pressure. Hanson tested Lillis with a turn and shot and Doyle sent a thunderous volley straight at the Dale keeper.

The second half started much like the first ended with Bradford pressing. Ravenhill and Wells both warmed the hands of Lillis whilst Davies came closest to opening the scoring but Rafferty was on hand to clear off the line.

With the clock counting down, Bradford piled on even more pressure but the Dale defensive lie stood strong. When Rafferty was beaten by Hines, the substitute’s shot was wayward.

It was a well earned point for Coleman’s men who are now on a run of just one defeat in eight games in all competitions and just the small matter of an East Lancashire derby coming up on Saturday against Coleman’s former side Accrington Stanley.

Coleman said: “I thought we coped pretty well in the second half, there weren’t too many toe curling moments. Yes we’ve cleared one off the line but other than that...

"We competed well, we pressed everything and I don’t think anybody can deny us a point.

"I believe it was a sending off; I was too busy complaining about a challenge five or six seconds before it on Bobby so I didn’t see it. I just heard the roar and looked up. We will look at the video and see; if he has left the ground then he deserves to go and we will speak with him and deal with it.

"We lose Bobby for three games now which isn’t ideal but it gives somebody else the opportunity.”

Attendance: 3461

Rochdale: Lillis, McIntyre, R Edwards, R Bennett, Rafferty, P Edwards, Tutte ©, Kennedy (Putterill 86), Donnelly, Adebola, Grant
Subs: (not used) Barry-Murphy, Curran, Smith, Grimes, Craney, Pearson

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Meredith, Ravenhill © (Thompson 74), Davies, Oliver, Reid (Hines 26), Hanson, Atkinson, Wells (Connell 82), McArdle, Doyle
Subs: (not used) Duke, Darby, Jones, McHugh

Referee: Mr J Adcock
Ass Referees: Mr R Joyce & Mr M Parry
Fourth Official: Mr C Kavanagh