Football: Coventry City 0 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale leapfrogged Coventry in the League One table after Calvin Andrew’s goal shortly after the half time interval earned Dale a narrow victory at the Ricoh Arena.

Andrew slotted in a Joe Rafferty cross with the officials signalling the ball had crossed the line despite Coventry’s efforts to keep it out.

Dale rode their luck a little with Coventrys misfiring in front of goal a numerous occasions.

Summer signing Stephen Dooley was handed a first start since joining from Coleraine whilst new loan signing Zach Clough took his place on the bench.

Rochdale started well with Coventry keeper Lee Burgh brilliantly tipping a Callum Camps effort over as early as the second minute.

Dooley was denied by Birch soon after when the keeper got down well to keep out the Irishman’s effort.

Coventry took control for the remainder of the half as they took the game to Rochdale.

Full back Jack Grimmer was a menace throughout the first half and created plenty of chances that his team mates failed to capitalise on.

Luke Thomas, Tony Andreu, Jonson Clarke-Harris and Dom Hyman were all guilty of glaring misses as the sides went in at the interval level.

Dale got the winner just 90 seconds after the restart through Calvin Andrew. Stepen Dooley’s short corner to Rafferty caught the home defence out and when the full back swung in a deep cross; Andrew’s first time shot just about crossed the line.

The goal spurred Rochdale on and Ian Henderson soon tested Burge with a neat turn and shot.

Andy Cannon almost doubled Dale’s advantage. Burge blocked his first with an outstretched leg whilst the midfielder hit a rasping shot that crashed off the face of the crossbar.

Seconds later, Henderson thought he had scored Dale’s second when he slammed home after an Andrew knock down, but an assistants flag cut short the celebrations.

Coventry had another spell of pressure from which Magnus Norman had to be alert to keep the scoreline in Dale’s favour. The on loan keeper pushed away a Luke Thomas strike whilst another shot from distance was tipped over the bar.

Henderson had another goal ruled out for offside before the Dale captain gifted Coventry a chance to level with a sloppy pass. Thomas’ pace was too much for Delaney but as he beared down on goal, the winger shot wide of the mark.

Dale held Coventry at bay for the remainder of the game and even an injury to keeper Magnus Norman couldn’t unsettle them as they earned a second away win of the season.

Coventry: Burge, Grimmer, Hyam, Willis, Mason, Doyle (c), Bayliss, Andreu (Chaplin 56), Thomas, Shipley (Allassani 69), Clarke-Harris (Bakayoko 77)
Subs: (not used) O’Brien, Davies, Brown, Ogogo

Rochdale: Norman (Moore 87),Rafferty,  McGahey, Delaney, Done, MJ Williams (Perkins 60), Cannon (Rathbone 79), Camps, Dooley, Andrew, Henderson (c)
Subs: (not used) McNulty, Wilbraham, Clough, Gillam

Referee: Mr C Breakspeare
Assistants: Mr A Da Costa and Mr M Wilson
Fourth Official: Mr A Khan

Attendance: 9,879