Rochdale 0 - 2 Preston North End

Rochdale 0 - 2 Preston North End

Rochdale crashed out of the League Cup at the first hurdle for the third time in three seasons after goals either side of half time condemned Dale to defeat. After being the better side throughout the first half, a mistake by Michael Rose on the stroke of half time allowed Preston’s Andy Little a run at goal, his shot going in off keeper Josh Lillis. Minutes into the second half and the game was over as a contest when Neil Kilkenny fired a powerful volley from the edge of the area that beat Lillis.

Dale boss Keith Hill made four changes to his side from Saturday. Matt Done was injured whilst Jamie Allen, Joe Rafferty and George Donnelly made way for Bastien Hery, Peter Vincenti, Joe Bunney and Calvin Andrew.

The first half of the first half was fairly even but then Dale stepped up a gear and dominated the remainder of the half.

Bennett’s delightful through ball to Henderson allowed him a shot at goal but brave defending denied him the opening goal.

Seconds later and Dale went even closer when Bunney’s cross/shot had the beating of Jones but not the woodwork.

With a minute left of the first half, Preston scored against the run of play. Little’s speedy run down the right beat Rose for pace and when he headed for goal, even the acute angle couldn’t prevent the striker bundling the ball home off Lillis.

It was an important goal at a crucial point in the game from which Dale just didn’t recover as just two minutes after the restart, Preston doubled their lead.

Lillis had to be at his acrobatic best to deny Little’s shot that he hit down into the ground and looped up but the Dale stopper managed to tip the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner, Kilkenny sent a sweet volley back through a plethora of bodies and into the top corner.

Another set piece almost caught Dale out just before the hour mark when Gallagher's in-swinging corner evaded everybody with Bennett on the line to clear with all eyes on the officials to see if the ball crossed the line.

A triple substitution for Dale around the hour was intended to bring a spark to Dale's play and they perhaps should have halved the deficit through Joel Logan. The winger was picked out perfectly by Vincenti but Logan fluffed his lines in front of goal.

With 20 minutes left, Dale were reduced to 10 men when Ollie Lancashire had to leave the field of play injured and having used all their subs, Dale had to play out the remaining time a man light.

Preston scored goals at the right time whilst Dale looked a little lightweight up front but against two teams that are expected to do well in League One this season, they have shown good promise and with games against Chesterfield and Crewe in the next week will be looking to get something from those games.

Attendance: 2,348

Rochdale: Lillis, Bennett, Lancashire (c), Tanser, Rose (Rafferty 61), Lund, Hery, Henderson, Vincenti, Bunney (Logan 58), Andrew (Donnelly 58)
Subs: (not used) Diba, Eastham, Allen, Camps

Preston: Jones, Woods, Clarke (c), Wright, B Davies, Kilkenny, Brownhill, Browne, K Davies ( Hugill 80), Gallagher (Hayhurst 73),Little, Humphrey 73)
Subs: (not used) Wiseman, Welsh, Stuckman, King

Referee: Mr M Brown
Assistant Referees: Mr T Peart & Mr P Wright
Fourth Official: Mr M Jones