Rochdale 0 - 0 Fleetwood Town

A missed Ashley Grimes penalty proved costly as Rochdale couldn’t breach a stubborn 10 man Fleetwood Town. Grimes saw his spot kick saved by Fleetwood keeper Scott Davies after Grant was felled by Youl Mawene. Alex Marrow was shown a second yellow by referee Brown just after the hour mark but even the man advantage didn’t count for anything as the game ended goalless.

George Donnelly earned a recall to the starting 11 after his super sub performance in midweek with Dele Adebola missing out. Phil Edwards was preferred at right back to Joe Rafferty.

Dale, buoyed by the midweek victory over Oxford started brightly but couldn’t force the opening. McIntyre’s left wing centre caused chaos in the visiting box with Howell just about clearing as Grant was about to pounce.

Ryan Edwards has been playing like a seasoned pro and not some youngster on loan from Blackburn and he showed a great determination for the cause on 18 minutes. Obeng sent a cross into the Dale defence and as Barkhuizen fired at goal, Edwards blocked bravely to deny the visitors.

Bobby Grant warmed the hands of Davies with a powerful drive which the stopper could only parry, Donnelly’s follow up was deflected behind.

Lillis was almost embarrassed at the other end when Gillespie’s shot was misjudged by the stopper but he made up for his error when the follow up was bravely blocked.

Coleman’s men started the second half again the brighter of the two teams and earned a penalty four minutes in. Grant picked up inside the area with his back to goal and seemingly going nowhere until Mawene challenged from behind and felled the striker. Having seen his last spot kick saved, Grant handed over the penalty duties to Grimes but his penalty was tipped onto the post by Davies.

The game was all Dale and any faint glimmer of a Fleetwood winner disappeared when Alex Marrow saw red for fouling Tutte inside the centre circle. Marrow had been booked 10 minutes earlier leaving referee Brown with no choice but to show red.

With the man advantage, Dale pressed forward in search of a winner but it sadly never materialised. Donnelly lacked composure when played in by Grimes and lashed wide whilst Cavanagh’s through ball towards Donnelly was sliced away by the keeper at the expense of a corner.

Fleetwood had a couple of half chances; Howell saw a freekick flash wide whilst Obeng shot straight at Lillis when well placed.

Donnelly had another chance with the clock ticking down but his volley was wayward from 18 yards.

Four points from two home games should be seen as a good return; especially against a Fleetwood side who started the day in third place, although extra shooting practice will be the order of the day at training on Monday after just two shots on target from 15 attempts today.

Rochdale assistant manager Jimmy Bell spoke afterwards: “It’s definitely two points dropped and we have told the players that after the game. Collectively we have to know the importance of winning these games.

"We feel we have a fantastic squad; one good enough to get us promotion but today was another two points dropped.

"The quality in the end wasn’t quite there.

"We said that Ashley (Grimes) had never missed a penalty for Rochdale and that’s why he was given the chance but it was a fine save from the keeper.

"With 10 men they sat in, we worked the ball into good area’s but we never created enough chances. Our shooting was woeful. They are a very good team who weren’t at their best and we should have won the game.”

Attendance: 2372

Rochdale: Lillis, P Edwards, Bennett, R Edwards, McIntyre, Tutte, Kennedy, Cavanagh (c), Donnelly, Grant, Grimes (Adebola 82)
Subs: (not used) Smith, Barry-Murphy, Pearson, Craney, Logan, Byrne

Fleetwood Town: Davies, Howell, Fowler, McLaughlin, McGuire (c), Gillespie (Ball 59) , Marrow, Mawene, Barkhuizen (Nicholson 69), Edwards, Obeng
Subs: (not used) Milligan, Parkin, Goodall, Maxwell, McNulty

Referee: Mr M Brown

Assistant Referees: Mr N Sharp & Mr S Meredith

Fourth Official: Mr J Wilson