Swindon Town 2 - 1 Rochdale

Swindon Town v Rochdale

A spirited performance from Rochdale yielded nothing as they went down by the odd goal in three, despite playing almost 80 minutes with ten men after John O’Sullivan was sent off for a stamp.

Two goals inside two first half minutes then proved costly for Dale, though Olly Lancashire set up a tense finale when he bundled home a Michael Rose corner on the hour mark. Calvin Andrew had a glorious chance to earn a point late on but he blazed over from 15 yards out.

Dale manager, Keith Hill’s pre-match build up had to be changed at the eleventh hour when Scott Tanser picked up an injury in the warm up. Michael Rose took his place with Brian Barry-Murphy replacing Rose on the bench.

In almost gale force winds, both sides struggled to keep control of the ball and when a heavy touch from midfielder John O’Sullivan allowed Yaser Kasim in, O’Sullivan’s over exuberance led him to jump into the tackle leaving referee David Webb with little choice but to brandish the red card.

Dale responded well to the set-back and had huge appeals for a penalty waived away by the official when Peter Vincenti looked to be pushed as he headed at goal from just six yards out.

Vincenti was at the thick of things once again and will feel he should have done better when Rose’s perfect ball in from the left found Vicenti at the near post but his attempt was poor.

Swindon looked to have sealed the game in just 90 seconds. Full back Bradley Barry picked out Fabien Robert inside the area who coolly slotted into the roof of the net to open the scoring.

Almost from the kick-off and Swindon made it two. Ben Gladwin picked up just inside his own half and was allowed, unchallenged, to drive at goal, although his shot took a heavy deflection off Jim McNulty to wrong foot Castro Pereira in the Dale goal.

The second half saw Dale press Swindon with the home fans getting frustrated as the minutes ticked by.

Olly Lancashire got Rochdale back into the game on the hour mark when he slid in to knock a Michael Rose corner over the line; an eagle eyed assistant on hand to flag the ball had gone in.

With Dale pressing, Swindon looked dangerous on the break. Gladwin waltzed his way into the area but dragged his shot across goal.

Kasim drilled a free-kick wide after the referee adjudged Lund had fouled the home captain.

As the clock ticked nearer to the 90th minute, Dale went in search of the leveller.

Michael Rose forced Lawrence Vigouroux into a smart save from a 30 yard free-kick.

Calvin Andrew missed a sitter in the final minute. The big striker rolled his man inside the area and with just the keeper to beat fired high over the bar.

The Dale boss was left frustrated after the game with the performance of the officials but his own side’s lack of quality in front of goal is what has cost points in recent games.

Attendance: 7,149

Rochdale: Castro Pereira, Bennett, McNulty, Lancashire, Rose, Lund, Camps (Andrew 54), Vincenti (Mendez-Laing 53), McDermott (Barry-Murphy 40), Henderson (c), Andrew
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Cannon, Eastham, Hooper

Swindon: Vigouroux, Turnbull, El-Abd, Branco, Barry, Kasim (c), Thompson, Robert (Rodgers 84), Ajose (Hylton 77), Obika, Gladwin (Balmy 90)
Subs: (not used) Ormonde-Ottewill, Ojamaa, Brophy, Belford

Referee: Mr D Webb
Assistants: Mr A Bromley and Mr R MacKay
Fourth Official: Mr C Taylor