Port Vale 2 - 2 Rochdale

The turning point of the game as this Sam Morsey foul on Jason Kennedy brought him a red card
Port Vale v Rochdale

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Rochdale came back from two goals down to earn a creditable draw against 10 man Port Vale. Bobby Grant and Andrew Tutte scored for Dale after Vale’s Sam Morsy saw red for a bad challenge on Jason Kennedy.

Tom Pope had earlier put Vale in the driving seat but in the end, Dale’s man advantage was too much for the home side.

On a cold, wet and windy night in Staffordshire, this game was a slow to get going.

The first real chance of the game fell to Grant when he volleyed straight at the home keeper from 20 yards.

Coming into the game, Port Vale stood second in the league table with an impressive home record of just one defeat all season and in Tom Pope, have the division's leading marksman.

The home side’s movement up front was a little too much for Dale at times who had to rely on some good defending and excellent goalkeeping to keep the score 0-0.

Lillis reacted very well to Ashley Vincent's downward header whilst Pope went close with a headed effort.

Having netted 15 times already this season, Pope was always going to be a danger and he duly opened the scoring just before the half hour. The striker connected well to a left wing cross, Lillis was equal to it but the rebound fell kindly and Pope slotted home.

Pope will feel he should have doubled Vale’s lead minutes later in an almost identical passage of play but Lillis was again on hand to save and clear the danger.

Coleman’s men hadn’t shown much of an attacking threat up to that point but ended the half stronger.

Donnelly warmed the hands of Neal and Adebola almost managed to squeeze the ball home after a jinking run into the area.

Dale came close to levelling deep into first half stoppage time but were denied by the crossbar. Bobby Grant’s initial ball into the area was cleared but with the ball rolling back into his path, Grant hit a superb first time shot that crashed back off the bar.

Vale started the second half well and went close through Williamson on a couple of occasions but it was Pope who would give Vale daylight on the score sheet. An awkward ball into the box fell behind Pope but the striker turned well and fired beyond Lillis for 2-0.

With that, the game looked over as a contest as the home side put men behind the ball but a stupid tackle by Sam Morsy on Kennedy on 68 minutes changed the whole complexion of the game. The Dale midfielder seemingly going nowhere, Morsy lunged in with studs showing leaving referee Woolmer with little choice but to show red.

With the extra man, Coleman’s men didn’t take long to get back into the game. A Cavanagh cross from the right was met by the head Grant for his seventh of the season.

Dale pressed as the clock ticked down and got their leveller with three minutes remaining. A short corner routine was picked up by Tutte who fired an unstoppable shot from 18 yards into the top corner to take an unlikely point.

George Donnelly had a late chance to snatch all three points but fired straight at Neal.

A point away at Port Vale could prove a crucial one come May, but for now it means four unbeaten for Coleman’s men as they stand on the periphery of the play off places.

Attendance: 4139 (157 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Lillis, McIntyre (Putterill 86), R Edwards, Bennett, P Edwards, Kennedy, Tutte, Cavanagh (c), Adebola (Grimes 58), Donnelly, Grant
Subs: (not used) Logan, Pearson, Barry-Murphy, Smith

Port Vale: Neal, Yates, Loft (Taylor 26), Myrie-Williams, Vincent, Pope, McDonald, Davis, Morsy, Williamson (Murphy 69 (James 73), Burge
Subs: (not used) Johnson, Dodds, Shuker, Lloyd

Referee: Mr A Woolmer
Assistant Referee: Mr J Clark & Mr N Smith
Fourth Official: Mr P Gooch