Football: Rotherham United 0 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale made it back-to-back away wins with a fantastic performance at high flying Rotherham. 

Stephen Humphrys’ first league goal for the club was enough to earn the win that sees Dale move to within seven points of safety still with up to four games in hand of the teams above.

Dale were the better team for large parts, and but for a superb save from Rotherham keeper Marek Rodak to deny Andy Cannon, they would have taken an early lead. Ian Henderson’s clever flick set Brad Inman away, who in turn picked out Cannon. The midfielder made space in the area but saw his powerful shot beaten away by a quick thinking Rodak.

A quickly taken freekick from Callum Camps saw Matty Done in space inside the box and his clipped ball over an onrushing Rodak almost picked out Ryan Delaney but for some last gasp defending.

Rotherham saw plenty of the ball but couldn’t really penetrate the resolute Dale defence. Will Vaulks firing over on a rare opportunity inside the area.

Dale were certainly looking for the opener, Humphrys’ angled shot across the face of goal and behind for a corner whilst Rodak pulled off an acrobatic save to deny Camps’ volley.

With the game entering first half stoppage time, Rochdale got some luck that they have perhaps been missing this season when referee Graham Salisbury disallowed Richard Wood’s header for a foul on Josh Lillis.

Rochdale continued to attack after the interval with Ian Henderson at the heart of most Dale’s attacks. A sublime bit of control on the half way line before lifting the ball forward towards Inman saw the on-loan man denied by a wonderful instinctive save from Rodak.

The only goal of the game came in the 67^th minute and it was another swift Dale counter attack started by goalkeeper Lillis. The Dale keeper’s quick throw to Inman caught the Rotherham defence off guard and he played in Humphrys who raced away from Wood before firing across the keeper and into the net.

Rotherham threw everything at Dale in the latter stages but never really troubled them.

When the referee blew the full time whistle, the 399 travelling fans celebrated what could be a crucial three points come the final standing’s in May.

Rotherham: Rodak, Emmanuel (Palmer 77), Ajayi, Wood (c), Mattock, Forde (Williams 59), Towell, Vaulks, Newell, Ball (Lavery 69), Smith
Subs: (not used) Price, Taylor, Ihiekwe, Yates

Rochdale: Lillis, McGahey, McNulty, Delaney, Rafferty, Done, Cannon, Camps, Inman (Rathbone 82), Humphrys (Davies 78), Henderson (c)
Subs: (not used) Moore, Wiseman, Adshead, Hart, Dobre

Referee: Mr G Salisbury
Assistants: Mr B Gordon and Mr N Sharpe
Fourth Official: Mr W Grunnill

Attendance: 8,418 (399 from Rochdale)