Burton Albion 3-2 Rochdale

It was a Boxing Day defeat for Dale on the road as they went down by the odd goal in five in a thrilling contest against Burton Albion.

Rochdale have never beaten Burton in a league game and that record continues after this festive cracker.

Dale boss John Coleman named an unchanged side from that which comfortably saw off Cheltenham on Friday but they were slow to get going in this game.

Josh Lillis had to be at his acrobatic best to deny Jacques Maghoma early on when the tricky winger saw his deflected shot brilliantly tipped over the bar.

The home side looked lively and were rewarded with a goal. Dale skipper Peter Cavanagh felled Robbie Weir 20 yards out with former Accrington striker Billy Kee firing home the free-kick; with the aid of a slight deflection.

Coleman’s men reacted well to going behind and would have levelled but for the crossbar and some wonderful goalkeeping. Andrew Tutte powered a shot which came back off the woodwork with Ryan Edwards heading the loose ball but Lyness in the Burton goal somehow saved.

Burton then doubled their lead with a route one goal. Lyness’ long kick up field was flicked on by Calvin Zola to Kee. Kee then held up the ball for Zola’s run into the area and he fired beyond Lillis.

Anybody with a Dale persuasion was incensed by referee Madley just before the break. Weir was down injured for Burton who had possession and continued their attack. When that attack broke down, with Burton committing men forward, Dale set about hitting their hosts on the counter attack but the referee stopped play to allow treatment for Weir. It is at the referee’s discretion when to stop play but the Dale manager was furious that play hadn’t been stopped earlier.

Spurred on by what they saw as an injustice, Dale halved the deficit through an unlikely source. Peter Cavanagh hadn’t scored since his summer move from Fleetwood but fired a volley into the top corner from 18 yards out to give Lyness no chance.

The second half started much like the first.

Maghoma’s mazy run and shot went straight at Lillis whilst Maghoma fed Dyer and his pin point cross was met by an acrobatic Zola, but he fired wide.

With Burton on top, Dale equalised against the run of play; former Rochdale defender Nathan Stanton was at fault. The defender, only back in the side due to the poor form of another former Dale man, Marcus Holness, played a dangerous back-pass to Lyness but Grant read that play and nipped in for his 12th of the season after rounding the keeper and firing home.

With the momentum in Dale’s favour, you felt they may just go on a nick the win but within minutes they were behind again. Zola was strong to brush off two Dale men and fired a powerful ball across the goalmouth and Kee was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from two yards out to make it 3-2.

The dangerous Zola and tricky Kee both had chances for Burton but couldn’t test Lillis before Coleman’s men again woke up and took the game to their opponents.

Grimes’ angled drive warmed the hands of Lyness, who pushed the ball around the post.

Kennedy’s neat flick from Grant’s free-kick almost caught out the home keeper. Grant saw his run and shot well saved.

Substitute George Donnelly should have done better deep into stoppage time when his free header six yards out didn’t hit the target.

Overall, it was a good performance from Rochdale but until they stop conceding silly goals, they are going to continue losing games.

Attendance: 2994

Rochdale: Lillis, P Edwards, Bennett, R Edwards, McIntyre, Cavanaugh (Putterill 82), Tutte, Kennedy, Grant, Adebola (Donnelly 76), Grimes
Subs: (not used) Barry-Murphy, Pearson, Smith, Rafferty, Craney

Burton: Lyness, Stanton, Diamond, Weir, Zola,McRory, Maghoma, O’Connor, Dyer (Corbett 90), Bell, Kee (McGrath 81)
Subs: (not used) Atkins, Webster, Taylor, Palmer, Paterson

Referee: R Madley

Assistant Referee: A Tankard & D Meeson

Fourth Official: M Dwyer