Rochdale 2 - 1 Port Vale

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Ian Henderson scored Dale's first from the penalty spot

Rochdale came from behind to overcome a stubborn Port Vale at a very wet Spotland Stadium.

Goals from Ian Henderson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing sealed the victory after Chris Birchall had fired the visitors into the lead.

Vale had skipper Carl Dickinson sent off deep into stoppage time for an off the ball altercation with Ian Henderson.

After the midweek defeat at Gillingham, the Dale manager made four changes to his starting eleven including giving a full debut to youngster James Hooper, and new loan signing John O’Sullivan was also handed his debut.

In torrential rain and swirling wind, which made the playing surface difficult in places, Dale captain Henderson brought about a fine save from Vale keeper Jak Alnwick. Henderson tried to curl a delightful shot around the stopper, Alnwick somehow managing to stretch a hand to tip away his effort.

The conditions certainly played a part in the opening goal. Bennett’s attempted clearance ricocheted back towards his own goal with the ball holding up on the edge of the area in standing water. With Castro Pereira caught in no man's land, Birchall rounded the keeper to slide the ball home despite the valiant attempts by Tanser on the line.

Calvin Andrew was denied by Alnwick when he found himself one-on-one.

James Hooper was a real menace to the visiting defence throughout.

Dale got back on level terms just before half-time in rather controversial circumstances when referee England awarded a penalty kick for a foul on Hooper. The striker was upended in a heavy challenge with Dickinson, in which the defender appeared to take the ball first. After the arguments had died down, Henderson comfortably dispatched the spot kick for his sixth goal of the season.

Stoppage time at the end of the first half brought about plenty of Dale attacks. McDermott, on midway through the first half for debutant O’Sullivan, glanced a header wide whilst Henderson fired weakly at Alnwick as the side went in level.

The second half weather was a little better which allowed for an end-to-end half of football.

Sam Foley brought about a good stop from Castro Pereira.

Ryan McGovern turned a Henderson cross against his own post under pressure from Mendez-Laing.

Dale certainly took the game to their visitors and got their rewards with 12 minutes left on the clock. Hooper’s shot was cleared off the line as Dale turned the screw with the rebound falling to Mendez-Laing, who made no mistake from 18 yards out.

Port Vale had a couple of dangerous looking free-kicks late on which the Dale defence dealt with.

An off the ball altercation between Dickinson and Henderson saw the referee brandish a straight red card to the visiting skipper as Henderson was felled.

It was a deserved three points for Rochdale, who now turn their attention to FA Cup action as neighbours Bury are the visitors to Spotland next Sunday (12 noon kick off).

Attendance: 2,510

Rochdale: Castro Pereira, Bennett, Lancashire, McNulty, Tanser, Camps, Bunney (Mendez-Laing 57), O’Sullivan (McDermott 34), Henderson, Hooper (Rafferty 88), Andrew
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Eastham, Rose, Vincenti

Port Vale: Alnwick, Dickinson (c), McGivern, Duffy, Yates, Birchall (Kelly 66), O’Conner, Grant, Foley, Dodds (Hooper 83), Leitch-Smith (Ikpeazu 72)
Subs: (not used) Neal, Pukiss, Streete, Daniel

Referee: Mr D England
Assistants: Mr B Gordon & Mr A Miller
Fourth official: Mr D Gratton