Peterborough United 3 - 1 Rochdale

Photo: Brad Journeaux

Peterborough United v Rochdale

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Rochdale’s run without a win was extended to seven games with defeat at Peterborough in a game that referee Chris Sarginson issued three red cards.

Dale’s Joe Rafferty was shown a second yellow card for pulling back Marcus Maddison in first half stoppage time and winger Donal McDermott was dismissed for a lunge on Jack Baldwin seven minutes into the second half.

By that point the scoreline was 2-1 to Peterborough via two quick fire goals from Baldwin and Tom Nicholls. Joe Thompson halving the arrears just before half time.

Peterborough skipper Baldwin was sent off with ten minutes left after a cynical trip on Ian Henderson.

Peterborough finished the game off when Paul Taylor lashed home a loose ball inside the area.

With no win since the beginning of January, the Dale manager was looking at different ways to turn his side's fortunes around but nobody could have second guessed his line-up for this clash between two teams searching for the play-offs. Leading scorer Ian Henderson and fellow striker Calvin Andrew, who have scored 19 goals between them this season, were utilised as fullbacks with Joe Rafferty used in midfield. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was also preferred against his former side.

The opening exchanges were a scrappy affair with the only bright spot being a Maddison free-kick that crashed back off the crossbar.

The eyebrows raised at Andrew's inclusion as a left sided defender were soon put in their place when the striker-turned-defender slid in brilliantly to deny Maddison as the winger was about to set his sights on goal.

Referee Chris Sarginson would, by the end of the game, be the major talking point and his first decision was the none award of a penalty kick to Rochdale when Jamie Allen was tripped inside the box. Replays showed a blatant trip but the Staffordshire official waived away Dale’s protests.

As the first half wore on, the game opened up with both sides creating chances.

Donal McDermott forced a low save from McGee.

Keith Keane acrobatically cleared Michael Bostwick’s header off the line.

A moment of class from Maddison deserved better when his raking 50 yard pass was perfect for Nichols but the striker’s header went straight into the hands of Wilson.

Three of the four goals in the game came in a four minute spell just before the interval.

Maddison’s corner was prodded home by Baldwin as he stole in ahead of McNulty to open the scoring.

One of Dale’s problems this season has been when they concede, they often concede again soon afterwards and this was the case 90 seconds later. A breakaway by Da Silva Lopes caught Dale short and when he scuffed his ball into the area, Nichols was the quickest to react as he swept the ball into the bottom corner.

Dale could have crumbled but instead they rallied and just 60 seconds later were back in the game when Mendez-Laing played in Joe Thompson who finished well past McGee.

Dale were finishing the half strong but when a McDermott corner deep into stoppage time was cleared, Rafferty was adjudged to have pulled back Maddison as Peterborough tried to break quickly. Having already been booked, the referee brandished a second yellow followed by the red card.

With Dale a man light, Thompson was sacrificed at the break with Harrison McGahey coming on but things got much worse minutes later. Having been beaten to the ball by Baldwin, McDermott lunged in to block an attempted clearance with the Peterborough captain flinging himself to the floor. Referee Sarginson was quickly on the scene and showed the Dale man a straight red card.

From then on it seemed like it would be damage limitation for Rochdale and for the most part it was as Peterborough poured forward.

On loan keeper Ben Wilson had to be on his game as he pulled off a string of fine saves to deny the hosts - Taylor and Maddison left frustrated.

As the half wore on, the nine men of Rochdale progressively attacked more and more.

Calvin Andrew flashed a free-kick narrowly wide from the right after a foul Henderson.

The pace of Peterborough was always going to cause problems, especially with a two man advantage but when Inman and Maddison exchanged passes inside the box, Wilson saved superbly with his right hand to turn the shot from Inman around the far post.

Henderson decided to take the game to Peterborough and when he beat two on the right wing, he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground by Baldwin, who having already been booked, followed Rafferty and McDermott for an early shower.

The Peterborough faithful were nervous and as Dale piled on the pressure, the groans of discontent from the Peterborough fans grew.

Andrew fired into the side netting after jinking his way into the box. McGee denied him with another shot with a block with his legs.

With Rochdale pushing for an equaliser, Peterborough, who still had a man advantage, scored a third to kill off the game. Brad Inman’s cross found its way to Taylor and he did well to finish inside the near post.

It was a despondent Dale side that left the field at the full time whistle. Their brave performance certainly deserved more with manager Keith Hill critical of referee Chris Sarginson when he spoke to the media afterwards having reviewed some of the major talking points.

Peterborough: McGee, M Smith, Tafzolli, Baldwin (c), Hughes, Da Silva Lopes (Mackail-Smith 63), Inman,Bostwick, Middison, Taylor, Nichols (Morias 86).
Subs: (not used) Tyler, Angol, Chettle, Binnom-Williams, Samuelson.

Rochdale: Wilson, Henderson, Keane (Kitching 57), McNulty, Andrew, Rafferty, Camps (c), Allen, McDermott, Mendez-Laing (Cannon 76), Thompson (McGahey 46).
Subs (not used) Logan, Vincenti, Rathbone, Noble-Lazarus.

Referee: Mr C Sarginson
Assistants: Mr S Butler and Mr T Ramsey
Fourth Official: Mr M George

Attendance: 4,457 (218 from Rochdale)

Rochdale manager Keith Hill's post-match reaction