Rochdale’s run of defeats stretched to three as we went down 1-0 to top of the league Ipswich Town.

A hard-working performance saw no reward as Ipswich Town came to Spotland and left with all three points to take them to the top of League One. Danny Rowe scored the winner for the Tractor Boys early into the second half and despite their best efforts, Dale couldn’t break through and get anything from the game.

We had fireworks before the game but very few on the pitch unfortunately and the impressive 900+ away following had something to celebrate on their long way back to Suffolk.

Ollie Rathbone and Rhys Norrington-Davies missed out through injury and Jimmy Keohane came in at left back while Rekeil Pyke came into the starting eleven as well. Ryan McLoughlin made it out of his permanent residence in the physio room to take up a spot on the bench. Jay Lynch kept his place in net, Matheson at right back with the Irish duo of McShane and O’Connell at centre back. Aaron Morley sat deep in midfield along with MJ Williams with Callum Camps, Matt Done and Rekeil Pyke playing more advanced and Hendo up front.

A spirited first half from Dale saw a much-improved start to the game than we saw against Bristol Rovers.

Dale created a host of half chances with a Pyke effort winning Dale a corner which proved fruitless.

Callum Camps went close with a shot from distance, but his effort went wide of the far post while Matt Done also broke through the Ipswich defence but he effort lacked any power and Will Norris in the Ipswich net was left with an easy stop.

Ipswich started getting into the game more and their quality began to show. Former Tranmere striker James Norwood hit the post with a header from 12 yards which was a big let off for Dale.

Norwood found himself lucky to stay on the pitch in all honesty. He was having argy bargy with McShane and getting himself wound off and was twice told to shut up by referee Scott Oldham and should really have been booked for dissent. Then minutes later he barged McShane into the

Luke Garbutt went agonisingly close as well with a great effort that smashed the crossbar, but I was convinced that Lynch actually got a finger tip to that. Tremendous save in my book.

So, Dale managed to go in 0-0 at the break. We’d played well in the first half, but it was clear that Ipswich were the more likely to score. We’d had chances but they’d had the better chances in the game.

It seemed to me that it would be a case that we may nick something if a final ball could be better or we got a golden opportunity, but we had to be aware Ipswich were going to get more chances and were likely to take at least one.

Sure enough, just 8 minutes into the second half and Ipswich were ahead. A cross came into the box and Danny Rowe poked the ball past Jay Lynch. Lynch had come out to try and claim it but hadn’t got there in time before the ball was in the back of the net.

Some people have mentioned a foul on McShane in the lead up to the goal, but I didn’t see anything from my view in the Sandy at the opposite end. All I saw was that Lynch came and didn’t get there.

Luke Matheson’s shot was saved by Will Norris and then came Dale’s best chance of the game when the ball fell kindly to Henderson who tried one of his lofted efforts when it looked easier to smash it. His effort ended up looping over the bar and into the Sandy Lane supporters. I can never criticise Henderson because he’s tried many of these and scored plenty of goals from them, but I suspect we’d have equalised if he’d walloped it instead of trying to be clever.

Jay Lynch prevented the visitors from going 2-0 up when he pulled off a good save one on one from Kayden Jackson.

Dale continued to push and even started going direct up to Calvin Andrew, but we couldn’t find that final ball to create anything clear-cut.

Jimmy Keohane got past his marker and fizzed a ball across but there was nobody on the end of his cross.

The game ended 1-0 Ipswich and while I didn’t expect anything from the game, I’m a bit disappointed we couldn’t get anything.

We now have a welcome distraction in the FA Cup first round. We travel to Wrexham on Sunday.

Player Ratings:
Jay Lynch: 6 — Looked questionable for the goal, he seemed to come and not get there. Apart from that he looked solid and pulled off a stunning save onto the bar in the first half.

Luke Matheson: 6 — Another decent performance from Luke, got forward well and worked very hard.

Paul McShane: 7 — Played well again, had his hands full with Norwood who he had a right ding dong with. Came off and hopefully he won’t be missing for weekend.

Eoghan O'Connell: 9 — Absolutely outstanding throughout. If he keeps this form up, we may not see him for the duration of his contract. Robbed of the Man of the Match award

Jimmy Keohane: 6 — Solid enough from Keohane who never seems to do anything but fill gaps in the side. Got forward well but the final ball was lacking

MJ Williams: 7 — Miles better from MJ, put a shift in and looked a lot more assured tonight.

Aaron Morley: 5 — Struggled unfortunately in the deeper role. He’s there for his wonderful range of passing but that wasn’t on show unfortunately. Most of his passes seemed to be mopped up with ease. Went off injured.

Rekeil Pyke: 4 — Poor performance in which he struggled to get into the game and have any effect whatsoever

Matt Done: 6 — Better performance from Done, worked very hard and a lot seemed to go through him in the first half but had a quieter second half.

Callum Camps: 6 — Worked hard and did ok. No idea how he was given Man of the Match.

Ian Henderson: 6 — Had a golden opportunity in the first half where he tried to be clever and loft it over the keeper instead of smash it in what was arguably Dale’s best chance but it’s Hendo so I will let him off. Worked hard with no reward.

Subs:

Jimmy Ryan: 6 — Came on for Aaron Morley who went off injured, did ok, kept the ball well but wasteful with half chances.

Fabio Tavares: 6— Lot of endeavour but nothing came off for him

Calvin Andrew: 6 — Everything was aimed towards him when he came on as we went very direct. Won most of his flick-ons but they went nowhere.

Attendance: 3,150

Sponsors MOTM: Callum Camps

Photo: Action Images

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