Football: Rochdale 1 - 1 Bradford City

Date published: 22 April 2018

Rochdale’s hopes of avoiding relegation were dealt a blow as a Josh Lillis mistake gifted Bradford City the equaliser in stoppage time. An innocuous looking cross saw the Dale goalkeeper seemingly in full control as he jumped to claim the ball but somehow spilled direct to Charlie Wyke who gleefully tapped home.

 

 

Matt Done had superbly fired Dale into a deserved first half lead; a half that saw Dale hit the post as well as Bradford keeper Colin Doyle pulling off a couple of good stops.

The draw leaves Dale still inside the bottom four; one point from safety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having been left frustrated at the 0-0 draw against Oldham in midweek, Rochdale really took the game to Bradford City, who at the start of the day were still in with an outside chance of a play-off place.

Joe Thompson was thwarted by Doyle when the stopper was quickly out to block  his shot after Calvin Andrews flick picked out the Dale man.

Andrew was a thorn in the Bradford's side all game and when he was stronger than Knight-Percival inside the area, the striker unselfishly pulled the ball back to Rathbone but good defending took away the chance.

Doyle pulled off a fantastic reaction save low to his right after Kilgallon inadvertently diverted a Rafferty cross towards his own goal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chances were falling Dale’s way and with four minutes left of the first half, Matt Done fired Dale into the lead. A flick on by Andrew to Thompson saw him send a deep cross towards the back post. Inman was on hand to nod the ball down to Done who, after taking a touch, dropped his shoulder before firing into the far corner of the net.

Both Bradford and Rochdale had half chances as the clock ticked towards half time.

A cross from the right by McMahon was sliced by Done as he tried to clear with former Dale midfielder Matt Lund shooting towards goal but Bradford striker Charlie Wyke got in the way as the ball bounced off him and wide.

At the other end, Inman’s tenacious play created space wide of the goal but from a very acute angle, the on-loan Peterborough man hit the post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second half saw Bradford create a few more chances.

Wyke fired over from close range when you would have expected him to test the keeper.

Substitute Nicky Law drilled a shot across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

With the game seemingly in Dale’s hands for maximum points, a huge mistake from Lillis gifted Bradford a point. Warnock’s left-wing cross looked simple for Lillis but somehow the Dale keeper dropped the ball at the feet of Wyke who will not have an easier finish all season.

 

 

 

It was a crushing blow to Dale who would have climbed out of the bottom four for the first time since December when they lost against Bradford at Valley Parade but as it is they remain one point from safety with Plymouth the visitors to the Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday.

 

 

Rochdale: Lillis, McGahey, McNulty, Delaney, Rafferty, Done, Camps ©, Rathbone (Ntlhe 51), Inman (Gillam 85), Thompson (Humphrys 74), Andrew
Subs: (not used) Moore, Wiseman, Morley, Dobre

Bradford: Doyle, McMahon ©, Kilgallon, Knight-Percival, Warnock, Gilliead, Dieng, Vincelot (Poleon 77), Lund (McCartan 90), Brunker (Law 54), Wyke
Subs: (not used) Chicksen, Raeder, Devine, Patrick

Referee:  Mr O Yates
Assistants: Mr S Wade and Mr M Cunliffe
Fourth Official: Mr D Street

Attendance: 4,365 (1,459 from Bradford)