Rochdale 2 - 2 Blackburn Rovers

Rochdale had to settle for a draw in their first home pre-season game against Championship side Blackburn Rovers. 

Keith Hill’s side took a two goal lead through Scott Hogan and Peter Vincenti but were pegged back by DJ Campbell and a stoppage time Morten Gamst Pederson free-kick.

The Dale boss named a strong side to face their Lancashire neighbours with goalkeeper Rob Thomson the only trialist. The back four of Rafferty, Eastham, Lancashire and Rose is likely to be the same combination that starts against Hartlepool in a fortnight when the season starts. The midfield was made up of Vincenti, Cavanagh, Lund, Hery and Henderson, with Hogan up front.

On a much cooler afternoon than of late, Dale set about their opponents and asked all the questions.

Vincenti glanced a Henderson cross wide inside the first minute whilst the former Aldershot man warmed keeper Jake Kean’s hands from distance.

This was a first glimpse of the new players for the Spotland faithful and they weren’t disappointed with what was on show.

Hogan was causing the Rovers defence no end of problems with his pace and trickery and after sending a warning shot at Kean, he got the breakthrough. He raced onto a through ball, riding a sliding challenge in the process before firing a powerful low drive across Kean and into the bottom corner.

The visitors had showed very little up front - with their forward line costing in excess of £10 million - their first attempt coming midway through the first half. Former Dale loanee Jordan Rhodes heading over.

Alan Judge came close to a leveller just after the half hour mark with a 30 yard freekick that hit the outside of the post.

With 90 seconds of the second half played, Dale doubled their lead. Bastien Hery’s low cross evaded everybody and fell to Vincenti at the back post who slid the ball home.

That goal seemed to spark the visitors into life with Thomson having to be alert to smother a Dann shot.

Just moments later Rhodes should have bagged himself a goal. A deep cross to the back post was headed back across the face of goal giving the Scottish international the easiest of headers but he somehow contrived to miss from one yard out.

Rovers did get the goal that looked inevitable on the hour mark, Campbell firing into the corner via a deflection just 60 seconds after coming on as a substitute.

Thomson denied Kilgallon the equaliser with a fine flying save.

At the other end Matt Done forced an acrobatic save from Kean after his drive was deflected up off Dann.

With the game heading for its conclusion, Rovers levelled with virtually the last kick of the game. Campbell was awarded a soft free kick 20 yards out and set piece specialist Morten Gamst Pederson fired home to bring the scores level at 2-2.

Attendance: 1,551