Southend United 2 - 1 Rochdale

Calvin Andrew scored Rochdale's goal

Rochdale’s six game winning run came to an end after a stoppage time goal condemned them to defeat in a fiery encounter in which both sides ended the first half with 10 men.

Marc-Antione Fortune tapped in the opener after a mistake from Keith Keane. Keane was shown a straight red card for bringing down Fortune seven minutes later.

McGlashan was dismissed for a second booking eleven minutes before the interval to even up the numbers.

Dale improved after the interval and drew level in the 66th minute when Calvin Andrew’s deflected shot looped over Ted Smith.

Southend won the game deep into stoppage time when Cox finished well from inside the area to take maximum points.

Coming into the game on the back of six straight wins, it was no surprise that manager Keith Hill opted for the same starting line-up as last week with Joe Rafferty switching to left back to fill in for the injured Joe Bunney and Harrison McGahey playing right back.

The opening minutes were uneventful but the game sprung into life after the quarter hour mark. Keane, seemingly in no danger, tried to play the ball back to his goalkeeper but McGlashan nipped in to steal the ball before playing in Fortune. The big striker rounded Logan before sliding the ball into the empty net. Keane was adamant he was fouled with Keith Hill stating afterwards the replays suggest Keane was caught by McGlashan.

Southend had their tails up with Logan called into action moments after when Ryan Leonard fired a low drive at goal.

The first flash point came when a poor clearance from Logan fell at the feet of Fortune who bore down on goal before being felled by Keane. After much thought, and remonstrations from the Southend players, referee Rob Lewis drew the red card to send Keane off. From the resultant freekick, Anthony Wordsworth slammed the ball against the bar before Dale cleared.

Tempers flared once more when a crude challenge on Callum Camps by McGlashan only drew a yellow card from referee Lewis; Conrad Logan also booked for his remonstrations with the officials.

Dale’s performance was littered with mistakes, even the ever reliable Matt Lund gave the ball away in a dangerous area, Cox’s shot blocked on the line by McGahey.

Southend were reduced to 10 men when McGlashan tripped Ian Henderson as the Dale man tried to break away; the winger, knowing his fate, was already heading for the tunnel before his (second) yellow card was shown.

With the numbers even, the game began to open up.

Camps’ 30 yard drive grazed the top of the Southend bar.

Logan got down well to deny Fortune at the other end.

Southend had a good chance to edge their noses in front in first half stoppage time when they broke into the right side of the area, a powerful shot flew across goal and wide of the far post.

The second half began almost like a pantomime with Rochdale’s Matt Lund the villain. Already on a yellow card, a couple of innocuous challenges drew an angry reaction from the Southend fans and with the Southend players surrounded the referee at every opportunity.

Lund was withdrawn by Hill. His replacement, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was quickly into the action as Dale upped a gear as they looked to get back on terms.

A Joe Rafferty corner was perfect for Andrew, his header flying wide whilst substitute Jamie Allen saw his deflected shot fall into the hands of Smith in the Southend goal.

Dale’s pressure paid off and they got a deserved equaliser just after the hour. A bustling run from defender McGahey opened up the Southend defence before finding Andrew out on the right corner of the box. The big striker shifted onto his left foot and curled a shot that looped up off a defender and into the top corner.

Dale were in the ascendancy and had chances to edge in front take the lead.

Jamie Allen missed a glorious chance after when he blazed over from seven yards out. Later he was denied by Smith who made a good low save.

Mendez-Laing used his pace to outstrip the Southend defence and when his cross came back off the face of the bar, Noble-Lazarus was left frustrated by Smith who somehow got down blocking his goal bound effort.

Allen had another late chance but once more Smith kept the ball out.

With the game heading for a draw, the 187 travelling Dale fans were left distraught deep into stoppage time. A well worked move on the edge of the Dale box saw Simon Cox combine with Michael Timlin who fired a superb shot into the top corner giving Logan no chance.

Even after the late goal, Dale went back up the other end and almost snatched a dramatic equaliser. Henderson burst through into the area and having beaten the keeper, was denied by a last gasp block on the line by a defender.

It was a disappointing end to what had been a frantic game but with other results going Dale’s way, they stay fifth in League One.

Southend: Smith, Demetriou, Thompson, Ferdinand, Timlin, Atkinson, Wordsworth (Coker 76), Leonard, McGlashan, Fortune (Hines 88), Cox.

Rochdale: Logan, McGahey, Keane, McNulty, Rafferty, Camps (c), Lund (Mendez-Laing 50), Rathbone (Allen 61), Davies (Noble-Lazarus 25), Andrew, Henderson.
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Canavan, Owusu, Cannon.

Referee: Mr R Lewis
Assistants: Mr D Bushell and Mr C Fitch-Jackson
Fourth Official: Mr C Pollard

Attendance: 6,570 (187 from Rochdale)