Walsall 0 - 2 Rochdale

Photo: Brad Journeaux

Walsall v Rochdale

Rochdale started 2017 with a bang as they made it five wins in a row against mid table Walsall. Goals either side of half time from Ian Henderson and Joe Thompson saw Dale keep pace with the top sides as they stayed fourth on 45 points.

After back-to-back home wins over the festive period, Dale were looking for another maximum haul of points from their final game before the FA Cup third round tie against Barrow on Saturday.

There was just one change to the starting eleven from the Shrewsbury game, Joe Thompson started ahead of Steven Davies up front.

Walsall, who lost 4-0 to Dale just six weeks ago, started the game well and will feel they should have taken the lead but for a great save and some wayward shooting.

Kieron Morris warmed the hands of Conrad Logan inside the opening 10 minutes with a low drive that the Dale goalkeeper had to turn around the post.

The best chance of the game for Walsall came just short of the 15th minute when a swift counter attacking move down the left carved the Dale defence open. Veteran Simeon Jackson beat Keith Keane before playing in Flo Cuvelier. The winger’s trickery took him away from Jim McNulty and when he played in the unmarked Amadou Bakayoko inside the box, the whole ground expected the opening goal but the striker, who had time, struck his first time shot way over the bar.

That scare sparked Dale into life and soon after they took the lead.

Joe Bunney’s teasing cross from the left saw home keeper Etheridge flap at the ball, Joe Rafferty firing a dangerous volley into the six yard box where Henderson was on hand at the back to tap home from a yard out for his fourth goal in three games.

The Walsall fans were angry at the way their side had given up parity and they roared their players on and almost got the response they wanted. When Rafferty was caught in possession, Bakayoko raced down the left before pulling the ball back to Cuvelier; Logan brilliant out to block.

Dale then upped the gear in the closing 10 minutes but couldn’t find another break through. Joe Thompson going closest with a shot blocked on the line by O’Connor, but his follow up was wide of the mark.

The second half was controlled by Rochdale and they perhaps could have put the game beyond Walsall earlier than the 74th minute.

Henderson had two goals ruled out, one for hand ball and another for offside either side of Joe Thompson’s goal.

Some great work from Harrison McGahey, on for the injured Joe Bunney, saw a neat one-two with Rathbone before putting the ball on a plate for Thompson who swept home from close range to seal the win.

Conrad Logan tipped a late shot over the bar but in all honesty, Rochdale were deserved winners.

That win makes it nine points from three games over Christmas. Seven goals scored and just one conceded. Dale fans have never had it so good.

Rochdale: Logan, Rafferty, Keane, McNulty, Bunney (McGahey 68), Camps (c), Lund, Rathbone (Mendez-Laing 90), Henderson, Andrew, Thompson (Davies 88).
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Canavan, Noble-Lazarus, Allen.

Walsall: Etheridge, McCarthy, O’Connor, Roberts, Laird, Cuvelier, Chambers (c), Edwards, Morris (Moussa 71), Jackson (Oztumer 63), Bakayoko.
Subs: (not used) MacGillivray, Dobson, Kinsella, Sangha, Makris.

Referee: Mr S Stockbridge
Assistants: Mr K Morris and Mr S Plane
Fourth Official: Mr I Smedley

Attendance: 4,667 (472 from Rochdale)