Rochdale 0 - 2 Fleetwood Town

Rochdale ended 2014 with back to back defeats after this lacklustre performance against near neighbours Fleetwood Town at Spotland. Ian Henderson’s penalty miss proved crucial. Matt Done had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring inside 30 seconds but visiting keeper Chris Maxwell was out quickly to smother the danger. Fleetwood took the lead through the head of skipper Mark Roberts who rose highest at the back post with Josh Morris steering the ball home seven minutes before the break to double the advantage before Henderson’s spot kick hit the bar.

With Matt Lund a long term injury after dislocating his shoulder and Stephen Dawson missing through injury too, Hill made four changes to the Boxing day side. Ollie Lancashire, Peter Vincenti, Jamie Allen and Bastien Hery were given starts.

Straight from the kick off, Dale created the opening chance when Henderson cleverly flicked the ball through to Done but Maxwell was quickly out to block at the striker's feet.

Fleetwood took the lead on 17 minutes after Joe Rafferty gave away a cheap free kick on the left. Roberts attacked at the back post to head home a simple goal to open the scoring.

Dale had big penalty appeals waved away by the referee when Vincenti looked to be having his shirt pulled inside the box.

Fleetwood were certainly looking the more dangerous side and had two chances around the thirty minute mark. Proctors neat back heel found Dobbie but Rafferty was on hand to divert wide whilst a melée inside the six yard box saw some brave defending by Lancashire to deny the visitors.

With Dale pushing for a leveller, Fleetwood doubled their lead. Hery’s attempted clearance was poor with McLaughlin teeing up Morris who slotted home from inside the area.

With time running out on the first half, Maxwell was again frustrating the Dale faithful. Michael Rose’s long range freekick was deflected to Henderson but the striker was foiled by the quick thinking of Maxwell who blocked at his feet.

Dale looked much sharper after the break and had a glorious opportunity eight minutes after the break. Lancashire was pulled over by McLaughlin inside the box but Ian Henderson saw his spot kick crash back off the crossbar.

Maxwell was again performing heroics when he was quickly out to block Vincenti’s close range effort whilst Henderson on the follow up flashed a stunning volley over.

With the game almost up and the points virtually in the bag for the visitors, Henderson was again denied by Maxwell. The striker picked up a ball inside the area with Maxwell quickly out to block.

With struggling Nottingham Forest next up at Spotland in the FA Cup, Hill will be looking to repeat last year's heroics.

Attendance: 3,123

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Lancashire (c), Eastham (Andrew 63), O’Connell, Rose, Allen, Hery (Camps 63), Henderson, Done, Vincenti (Cywka 76)
Subs: (not used) Bennett, Noble-Lazarus, Tanser, Diba

Fleetwood: Maxwell, McLaughlin, Roberts, Jordan, Crainey, J Hughes, Morris (Forbes 74), Evans, Dobbie (Schumacher 69), Proctor, Hitchcock (M Hughes 61)
Subs: (not used) Lucas, Blair, Davies, Haughton

Referee: Mr R Madley
Assistant Referees: Mr M McDonough & Mr E Smart
Fourth Official: Mr A Madley