Rochdale were made to pay for their lack of creativity at Edgeley Park last night with a full match report online now.
I’ve got to say, before I start, how surprised and happy I am with the lack of knee-jerk posts on the message board excluding a couple of predictable individual fans who love to have a pop at certain players.
Last night was an absolute six pointer, there is no doubt about that, but it once again opened my eyes as to how fast some of these “Dale” fans will turn on their team when a game doesn’t go our way.
Keith Hill opted for the same starting eleven that put Billy Deardan’s Mansfield Town to the sword on Saturday with Rochdale starting the brightest in what were hardly ideal conditions at Edgeley Park.
But despite all the early possession for Dale, we never really opened any opportunities and it was County who took the lead after ten minutes when Dale’s defence fell asleep defending a corner.
It was Anthony Pilkington who floated in a ball into the six yard box for Liam Dickinson to get on the end off. It was a simple corner which Dale simply weren’t able to defend but Dickinson made no mistake as he guided the ball past James Spencer.
Dale were by no means out of the game at this point, but for the first half it’s got to be said, that Stockport’s on loan Everton goalkeeper John Ruddy had very little to do.
The next real opportunity of the game was to fall to someone who was a pain in the proverbial rear for Rochdale at Blundell Park this season.
Good work on the right by County allowed on loan Manchester City full back Shaleum Logan to try his luck with a lob, but he got to much on it as Spencer watched it go over his bar.
Adam Rundle was the next to come close for Dale as his cross deflected over the crossbar by Stockport captain Ashley Williams.
While at the other end Logan was involved once again as he picked out Gareth Owen, but the centre back failed to get any real power on his headed effort as Dale were let off for slack defending once again.
Kallum Higginbotham was replaced by Ben Muirhead on the 36th minute mark as he was unable to continue having picked up an injury from a challenge just minutes before.
Adam le Fondre was to have the final shot of the first half, but his effort was more of a threat to the planes above than it was to County’s net.
Rochdale came out all guns firing in the second half with their best fifteen minute spell of the game Rene Howe and Gary Jones having early chances on goal as Dale started to get on top of County.
Dale’s best chance of the game, and arguably the turning point of the game, came as Rene Howe found himself through on goal, but his effort was matched by a superb one handed save by Ruddy.
But immediately after that Pilkington’s through ball set Dickinson through on goal, Dickinson still had work to do however as he beat Spencer who had come out to close the angle going on to thump the ball home from a tight angle despite the efforts of Dale’s defender on the line.
I'm sure there's plenty that will blame Spencer for the decision he made, but there's a defence infront of him that went walkies as Dickinson raced through and the goal was not just Spencer's fault, it was down to a collective error from the Dale defence, a bit like the first really.
It was quite clear to everyone that Dale had a mountain to climb if they wanted to get back in the game as Hill changed his formation with Will Buckley replacing Adam Rundle and Chris Basham replacing Tom Kennedy.
It wasn’t to be though as County saw out the game without any real scares from the Rochdale strikers in what was a real six pointer for both sides.
The result leaves Dale five points behind 7th place thanks to the Buckets doing us a favour, winning 3-0 at Gigg Lane, against Rotherham United.
Dale’s next game is at home to Accrington Stanley in a game where it’s key that Dale dig themselves out of the current rot that has set in at Spotland.
Time to get out your mats and pray to the Football Gods me thinks.
Player Ratings:
James Spencer 6
Simon Ramsden 7
Rory McArdle 7
Nathan Stanton 6
Tom Kennedy 6
Kallum Higginbotham 6
Gary Jones 6
David Perkins 7
Adam Rundle 6
Adam le Fondre 6
Rene Howe 6
Substitute Ratings:
Ben Muirhead 6
Will Buckley 6
Chris Basham 6