Southend United 2 - 2 Rochdale

Photo: Brad Journeaux

Southend United v Rochdale
Michael Rose equalises for Rochdale with a 25-yard free-kick

Rochdale came from behind to earn their fourth draw in a row, after Southend United took a two-goal lead.

Keith Hill made two changes to the side that drew with Oldham last week with Tom Kennedy replacing the suspended Andy Cannon in defence and Joe Bunney in for Lewis Alessandra in attack.

Southend opened the scoring late in the first half through a David Mooney penalty, after Ryan Leonard was brought down in the box by Dale keeper Josh Lillis.

Leonard doubled the Southend lead just before half time with a low shot.

Trailing by two to nil at half time, Hill made three changes at the start of the second half with Calvin Andrew, Michael Rose and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing replacing Vincenti, Kennedy and Allen.

Dale piled on the pressure after the restart and the pressure paid off when they pulled one back via Joe Bunney's deflected volley.

Michael Rose equalised with a superb 25-yard free-kick with just 12 minutes remaining.

Both sides had late opportunities to win the game.

Southend keeper Daniel Bentley denied Dale a late winner when he saved from Calvin Andrew's close range effort.

Lillis pulled off a good save to deny Mooney as Southend threw everything at Dale in the closing minutes.

Attendance: 6,111

Southend United: Bentley, White, Bolger, Prosser, Coker, Leonard, Deegan, Timlin, McLaughlin, Pigott, Mooney
Substitutes: Wordsworth, Worrall, Payne, Atkinson, Smith, Rea, Williams

Rochdale: Lillis, Kennedy, Lancashire, McNulty, Tanser, Camps, Lund, Allen, Vincenti, Bunney, Henderson
Substitutes: Eastham, Andrew, Alessandra, McDermott, Mendez-Laing, Rose, Castro Pereira 

Referee: Steve Martin