Bristol Rovers 2 - 2 Rochdale

Bristol Rovers v Rochdale

Ten man Rochdale earned a well deserved point despite leading twice against Bristol Rovers at The Memorial Stadium.

Callum Camps kept a cool head to round keeper Kelle Roos to open the scoring. Matty Taylor poked home a Peter Hartley knock down to equalise. Dale re-took the lead 60 seconds later when Ian Henderson tapped home a Joe Bunney driven cross. Rovers again drew level five minutes into the second half, Taylor’s acrobatic finish giving Josh Lillis no chance.

Niall Cnavan was shown a second yellow card after a tangle on the half way line with Rovers substitute Ellis Harrison.

Dale boss Keith Hill named an unchanged side from that which drew with Sunderland in the EFL Trophy in midweek, meaning there were six changes from the last league game against Oxford. Josh Lillis, Scott Tanser, Peter Vincenti, Matt Lund, Callum Camps and Joe Bunney were all given starts.

Still looking for their first win, Dale certainly took the game to their hosts and piled on the pressure in the early stages.

Ian Henderson saw his chipped attempt clutched out of the air by Roos.

Peter Vincenti sent a Bunney cross into the side netting from a free header.

Dale took a deserved lead on 17 minutes, Camps latching onto a disguised through ball from Henderson before rounding Roos to slot into the empty net.

The home fans were silenced but the Rovers players got back on terms just four minutes later. Rochdale’s Achilles heal coming back to haunt them once more. A Bristol corner was met by Hartley at the back post, his downward header put over the line by Taylor from close range.

They say you’re never more vulnerable than just after you have just scored and that was true for Rovers. Just 62 seconds after levelling, they were behind again. Lund’s pin point cross field pass to Bunney was flashed across goal by the winger with Dale skipper Henderson given the easiest of tasks from two yards out to tap in.

Rovers lifted the tempo after the restart for the second half and created the better chances.

Lee Brown saw his 25 yard free kick flash just over Lillis’ bar.

Rovers then drew level moments later, again from a corner ball. A deep set piece was partially cleared by Dale only for Jermaine Easter to keep the attack alive. Another poor header fell to Taylor unmarked 12 yards out with the striker’s powerful scissor kick beating Lillis.

The game really opened up after the equaliser.

Henderson couldn’t squeeze the ball through a plethora of bodies after Rovers failed to clear a Dale corner.

At the other end, Niall Canavan’s last gasp tackle denied substitute Harrison.

The game looked to have swung in favour of the Rovers with 20 minutes left when Dale were reduced to 10 men. Niall Canavan’s wrestling match with Harrison resulted in a second yellow card for the defender meaning Dale would have to play out the remainder of the game with ten men.

The game continued to be end-to-end.

Tom Lockyer headed over when he should have done better.

Bunney’s cross almost sneaked in at the near post, Roos just about keeping the ball out.

Jamie Allen’s set piece from wide had to be dealt with by Roos as it almost nestled into the bottom corner.

The final stages saw Rovers pile on the pressure but Rochdale stood firm to earn a point which, under the circumstances, could prove to be a very valuable one.

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, McGahey, Canavan, Tanser (McNulty 46), Lund, Allen, Camps (Keane 76), Vincenti (Andrew 66), Bunney, Henderson (c).
Subs: (not used) Logan, McDermott, Davies, Odelsui.

Bristol: Roos, Clarke, Lockyer (c), Hartley, Brown, Boateng (Colkett 80), Sinclair, Lines, Easter (James 83), Taylor, Bodin.
Subs: (not used) Mildenhall, Leadbitter, O Clarke, Gaffney.

Referee: Mr R Joyce
Assistants: Mr N Radford and Mr M Webb
Fourth Official: Mr A Tranter

Attendance: 8,057 (137 from Rochdale)