Rochdale 3 - 3 Millwall

Callum Camps’ second goal in two games gave Dale the lead

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Play-off hopefuls Rochdale and Millwall played out a six goal thriller as the spoils were shared at the Crown Oil Arena.

Lee Gregory from the spot and Aiden O’Brien after a mistake by Jim McNulty saw Millwall race into an early 2-0 lead but Dale were back level before half time.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing squeezed a shot into the bottom corner after a good lay off from Calvin Andrew before a training ground routine free-kick paid off when Mendez-Laing’s shot was spilled into the path of Henderson to tap home.

Rochdale controlled the opening stages of the second half and went in front through Callum Camps’ second in two games before Jed Wallace earned a point for Millwall late on.

With Matt Lund away on international duty, Peter Vincenti started in midfield in Rochdale's only change from Saturday’s win over Gillingham.

Millwall arrived looking to climb back into the top six and at the same time end Rochdale’s interest in the play-offs as they started the day six points clear of their hosts having played the same number of games, but it was Dale who took the game to their opponents in the early stages.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is in the form of his life and he terrorised the defence from the first whistle. His first foray forward saw him cross for Andrew but a brave defensive block deflected the ball out for a corner. Moments later his pace and trickery saw him with a sight of goal; his driven ball flew across the face of goal and wide.

In Millwall’s first venture they earned a free-kick out wide and when it was whipped in, Peter Vincenti was adjudged to have pulled back Byron Webster and referee Darren England pointed to the spot. Gregory making no mistake from 12 yards out.

One soon became two when Jim McNulty’s stray pass saw Gregory nip in to poke the ball to O’Brien to slot past Logan.

Despite being 2-0 down, Rochdale battled themselves back into the game through the ever dangerous Mendez-Laing. Joe Bunney’s ball into the mix was chested down by Andrew and Mendez-Laing took one touch to control before hitting a right footed shot inside the left hand post.

Dale were looking up for the fight; Henderson almost netting a spectacular equaliser with a turn and volley narrowly missing the far post.

As the clock was ticking towards half time, Henderson did draw Dale level. A short free-kick routine involving Camps, Andrew and Mendez-Laing saw the latter race into the box; his powerful shot was spilled by Jordan Archer, Henderson the lucky recipient to net his 15th of the season from close range.

Rochdale took control in the early stages of the second half when Callum Camps picked up a poor clearance 20 yards out and fired a low shot in off the post to give his side the lead.

That lead could quite easily have been extended when Mendez-Laing’s jinking run and shot was saved by Archer; Andrew unable to turn the loose ball into the empty net from inside the six yard box.

As the half wore on, Millwall looked dangerous. Gregory’s breakaway down the right gave him time to cross and when the ball broke inside the box, Jed Wallace raced onto the loose ball to slam home the equaliser.

Both sides went for the win in the latter stages. Wallace saw his powerful run and shot brilliantly pushed away by Logan. At the other end Dale had two attackers versus one defender but when well placed to shoot, Henderson opted to play in Rathbone who had strayed offside.

In the end a draw was a fair result but it doesn’t really help either side in their quest for a top six finish.

Rochdale: Logan, McGahey, Canavan, McNulty, Bunney, Camps (Rathbone 87), Allen, Vincenti (Rafferty 79), Henderson (c), Mendez-Laing, Andrew.
Subs: (not used) Wilson, McDermott, Owusu, Morley, Kitching.

Millwall: Archer, Cummings (Romeo 62), Webster, Cooper, Craig (c), Wallace, Williams, Butcher, O’Brien (Onyedinma 89), Morison, Gregory.
Subs: (not used) Hutchinson, Worrall, Thompson, Ferguson, King.

Referee: Mr D England
Assistants: Mr C Taylor & Mr T Harty
Fourth Official: Mr G Salisbury

Attendance: 2,334