Rochdale 0 - 0 Oldham Athletic

Rochdale v Oldham Athletic

Rochdale were held to their third successive scoreless draw by neighbours Oldham Athletic at Spotland. Rochdale had the better of the chances but Lewis Alessandra missed an open goal from six yards out whilst Ian Henderson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing were denied by good stops from Oldham goalkeeper David Cornell.

Dale manager, Keith Hill made two changes to his starting eleven from the midweek draw with Coventry City, Peter Vincenti and Alessandra were preferred to Donal McDermott and Calvin Andrew.

The atmosphere inside Spotland was electric, and it was Dale who had the best chance of the first half. A neat passage of play saw Andy Cannon cross perfectly for Alessandra but the striker fired over from six yards out.

Oldham never really threatened Josh Lillis in the Dale goal, with their main threat coming from set plays.

Mike Jones sent three dangerous balls into the area, James Wilson twice and then James Higdon missing the target.

Latics keeper Cornell had to be at his best when he pushed Ian Henderson’s close range header onto the woodwork before his defence scrambled clear.

Dale continued to look the more threatening after the break.

Cannon drilled over before substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing brought another fine stop out of Cornell.

A speculative dipping shot by Oldham substitute Mark Yeates brought about some oohs from the travelling contingent but that was about as close as Oldham side came to breaking the deadlock.

Little Jimmy Osmond was at number one in the charts with 'Long-haired Lover from Liverpool' the last time Rochdale drew three successive games 0 - 0 (December 1972).

Attendance: 5,690

Rochdale: Lillis, Cannon, Lancashire, McNulty, Tanser, Allen (c) (McDermott 84), Lund, Camps, Vincenti (Mendez-Laing 58), Henderson, Alessandra (Andrew 57)
Subs: (not used) Eastham, Kennedy, Bunney, Castro Pereira

Oldham: Cornell, Dummingan, J Wilson, B Wilson, Lafferty (Eckersley 63), Kelly (c), Jones (Poleon 43), Winchester, Fulton (Yeates 73), Higdon
Subs: (not used) Coleman, Dieng, Croft, Fuller

Referee: Mr A Madley
Assistants: Mr R Wooton & Mr S Copeland
Fourth Official: Mr M Amphlett