Le Fondre puts Rochdale home nightmare to sleep

Rochdale v Accrington

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Rochdale 4 (Le Fondre 45 (pen), 65, 83, Jones 48)
Accrington Stanley 1 (Whalley 34)
Rochdale won for the first time at home since New Year’s Day as an Adam Le Fondre hat-trick helped them come from behind against Accrington Stanley.

Shaun Whalley produced a calm finish to give Accrington the lead but the game hinged on a penalty awarded to Dale on the stroke of half time. Le Fondre converted the spot kick after the referee adjudged James Harris to have tripped Gary Jones.

Rochdale took advantage of their good fortune in the second half by putting the visitors to the sword. Gary Jones smashed an emphatic finish from David Perkins’ cut back to give them the lead.

The points were secured when Le Fondre headed home Chris Basham’s wonderful volleyed cross and the Dale striker completed his hat-trick by finishing off another Perkins cut-back.

“There’s no doubt the penalty changed the course of the game,” said Rochdale boss Keith Hill. “I think we had all our luck for the season in one first half but goals change games and in the second half we were a different animal.”

Le Fondre’s three goals means he now has 13 for the season but his manager wants more. “Adam has not had a bad return but it’s not a great return. He will score those types of goals and now we need him to score more,” said Hill.

“We now have 56 points, which is ten points off what we got last season and that is our priority now. Of course we want to get into the play offs and we have still got Rotherham to play.”

Accrington boss John Coleman was disappointed with his side’s second half demise. He said: “I’m frustrated at the game because we could have been three-nil up at half time. We gave people a job to do and in the second half they have not done them.

“In terms of the penalty some of the lads thought it was one and others thought it wasn’t. I’ve spoken to the player and he said he thought he got the ball but could have got the man as well. We seem to be good at giving penalties away but not so good at winning them.

“Rochdale have come out with their tails up in the second half and then we give possession away on the edge of our own box and they take the lead and after that they have run out worthy winners.”

Throughout the season Rochdale have struggled at Spotland. Their away form has carried them to the verge of the play-offs but a home surge at this time of the season could carry them to the end of season show down.

As John Coleman claimed however, this was certainly a game of two halves with Accrington making a strong start and deservedly taking the lead.

The visitor’s joy came from set pieces thanks to an unconvincing first half display from James Spencer in the Rochdale goal.

Early in the game Spencer could only flap an Ian Craney corner over his own cross bar and once Accrington had taken the lead he came out to try and catch an Aswad Thomas free-kick that he was never going to get and Paul Mullin headed just wide of the empty net.

In between times the visitors had taken the lead after another high-floated Thomas free kick put the home side in all kinds of trouble. Rory McArdle failed to deal with the set-piece, allowing Whalley to latch on, nudge the ball past Tom Kennedy and finish with ease beyond Spencer.

There was no instant response from an out of sorts Rochdale side but they got the lifeline their home form so desperately needed with the penalty right on half time.

Rochdale were rampant in the second half, producing by far the best football of their home campaign so far this season. In the end the score line could have been more emphatic than it finished.

They took the lead when Perkins prayed on a loose pass from Harris and burst into the Accrington box. Dale’s best player cut the ball back to pick out his midfield partner Gary Jones and he produced a superb finish into the top corner for his third goal in as many games.

The home side did not let up and another of their star men almost extended their advantage minutes later.

Chris Basham produced a superb save from Kenny Arthur after Le Fondre had clipped the ball in for the Bolton loan player to strike. Basham got a second bite of the cherry when the ball fell for Jones to cross to the back post but Basham hit the ball straight at Arthur with the goal at his mercy.

Adam Rundle had a shot blocked after being fed Perkins but Dale’s third was not long in coming. It came when Le Fondre preyed on Basham’s wonderful volleyed cross from the right wing. Le Fondre stole a yard on his marker and then couldn’t miss as he powered his header beyond Arthur.

By now the Accrington defence had all but collapsed and Rochdale continued to pour forward. Jones almost produced a carbon copy of his first goal but this time could only fire Basham’s cut back wide of the upright.

Rochdale’s fourth goal put the seal on Perkin’s man of the match display as he produced another barn-storming run from midfield. He collect Adam Rundle’s ball into the channel and produced a low square ball for Le Fondre to turn in and complete his hat-trick.

Attendance: 3,247

Rochdale: Spencer, Ramsden, Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Rundle, Jones (Doolan 87), Perkins, Basham (Muirhead 88), Howe, Le Fondre (Thompson 88).
Subs not used: Buckley, Holness.

Booked: Le Fondre, Basham.

Accrington: Arthur, Edwards, Roberts (McGivern 78), Kempson, Thomas, Richardson, Whalley, Harris (Todd 70), Mannix (Mangan 54), Craney, Mullin.
Subs not used: Dunbavin, Webb.

Booked: Mullin.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 11 (7) Accrington 8 (3)
Freekicks: Rochdale 24 Accrington 19
Offside: Rochdale 2 Accrington 5
Corners: Rochdale 3 Accrington 7

Referee: P Taylor.