Southend 0 - 0 Rochdale

Ian Henderson was sent off

Rochdale goalkeeper Brendan Moore saved a first half penalty to help earn his side a point despite playing 40 minutes with just ten men after Ian Henderson was sent off early in the second half. Moore got down well to his right to tip away Simon Cox’s penalty in first half stoppage time after a Joe Rafferty foul.

Dale manager Keith Hill brought in two new signings on transfer deadline day, Donervon Daniels came in on loan from Wigan whilst Jordan Williams, the second player of the same name in the Dale squad, arrived on loan from Liverpool, with Williams starting whilst Daniels made the bench.

The game started in fiery fashion when Jim McNulty clattered into Jermaine McGlashan after just fifteen seconds; the Dale defender lucky to not enter the referee's notebook.

In a game of few clear cut chances it was Rochdale who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Williams crashed a shot against the post after ten minutes. A sweeping cross field ball picked out Henderson who pulled the ball back across goal towards Williams. He turned and hit a powerful shot that was instinctively pushed onto the post by Oxley.

The first talking point of the game came in first half stoppage time when a Southend corner was cleared away although referee Tim Robinson spotted an infringement and awarded a penalty kick. Experienced striker Simon Cox stepped up but was brilliantly denied by a one handed save by Moore in the Dale goal.

The game turned in favour of the home side in the 50th minute when Rochdale captain Ian Henderson was adjudged to have caught full back Stephen Hendrie with a lunging tackle; the assistant referee flagging furiously. After consulting his assistant, the official brandished the red card much to the annoyance of the Rochdale bench.

With the man advantage, Southend pressed for an opening but the visiting defence standing firm and limiting the opposition to set plays and shots from distance that never really troubled Moore.

Dale remain win less in their opening fixtures in the league but with a much improved performance, a first victory of the season won’t be too far away.

Southend: Oxley, Bwomono, Timlin, Kyprianou, Leonard ©, Hendrie (Yearwood 55), Kightly,McLaughlin (Robinson 70), McGlashan, Cox, Antoine-Fortune (Ranger 53)
Subs: (not used) Smith, Bridge, Matsuzaka, Coutts

Rochdale: Moore, Rafferty, McGahey, Canavan, McNulty, Kitching, Williams (Inman 90), J Williams, Cannon (Davies 84), Henderson ©, Done (Daniels 84)
Subs: (not used) Collis, Barry-Murphy, Brown, Gillam

Referee: Mr T Robinson
Assistants: Mr I Cooper and Mr A Fox
Fourth Official: Mr C Brook

Attendance: 6,208 (181 from Rochdale)