Rochdale 1 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

Rochdale AFC club badge

Steven Davies’ stunning strike made it three wins out of three for Rochdale as they defeated Bolton Wanderers at The Crown Oil Arena. Davies, on as a first half substitute after Ian Henderson was taken to hospital with concussion, finished with aplomb from a narrow angle to net the only goal of an entertaining game. The win, a first ever league victory against Bolton, lifts Dale upto 15th.

After the weekend's win over Millwall, Dale came into this fixture full of confidence against a Bolton side that hadn’t won in seven outings.

Keith Hill made two changes from Saturday with Joe Rafferty and Jamie Allen preferred to Harrison McGahey and Donal McDermott.

Backed by almost 3,500 fans, Bolton started the game brightly but it was Rochdale’s Joe Thompson who almost opened the scoring. After peeling away from his man at the back post, the midfielder sent a teasing ball across goal that almost crept in at the back post.

The best two chance of the half fell to Bolton. James Henry fired horribly wide from close range after brilliant play from Jamie Proctor whilst defender David Wheater’s piledriver from 25 yards was held well by Lillis who saw the shot very late.

The only goal of the game came seven minutes into the second half through Davies’ good play. The substitute turned Thorpe before sending a weak ball into the centre of the area. Wheater rebuffed the cross with the loose ball finding its way back to Davies who slammed a left footed shot into the far corner from a narrow angle.

With the travelling fans silenced, Dale continued to press and almost doubled their lead just five minutes later. Matt Lund’s cross was brilliantly turned goalwards by Jamie Allen’s awkward header, the post coming to Bolton’s rescue.

Allen could have got on the scoresheet soon after when Bolton keeper Mark Howard spilled a Lund cross, the Dale midfielder seeing his goalbound effort blocked on the line.

With the clock ticking down, Bolton started to throw everything at Dale.

James Henry perhaps should have done better when picked out by Spearing, his scuffed shot kept out by Lillis.

Henry thought he had rescued a point for Bolton late on but his deflected shot hit the outside of the post as the Dale faithful breathed a sigh of relief.

The last action of the game saw Sanmi Odelusi break away before feeding Allen. The midfielder delaying his shot which allowed Wheater to slide in and block the chance.

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Keane, Canavan, Bunney, Camps, Allen, Lund, Andrew, Thompson (Odelusi 81), Henderson (c)(Davies 27)
Subs: (not used) Logan, McGahey, McDermott, Rathbone, Noble-Lazarus

Bolton: Howard, Wilson (Vela 81), Wheater, Thorpe, Moxey, Spearing (c), Trotter, Taylor (Clough 63), Henry, Anderson (Ameobi 63), Proctor
Subs: (not used) Alnwick, Osede, Taylor, Perry

Referee: Mr D Coote
Assistants: Mr S Hudson and Mr N Greenhalgh
Fourth Official: Mr G Hilton

Attendance: 6,011