Football: Rochdale 1 - 1 Fleetwood

Ian Henderson’s 15th goal of the season ensured a share of the spoils as Rochdale came from behind to draw 1-1 with ten man Fleetwood. The Dale skipper powered home a header from a Stephen Dooley cross with 14 minutes left to play to earn a point and end a run of 5 straight defeats. Fleetwood went in front in the first half when Paddy Madden glanced in Ross Wallace’ right wing cross before they were reduced to ten men early in the second half. Full back Lewie Coyle’s two footed challenge on Joe Rafferty saw a straight red card shown to the Leeds United loanee but Dale couldn’t find a winner and had to settle for a point. 

On the back of five straight defeats in all competitions, Keith Hill made two changes from the side that lost to Peterborough last Saturday. Wolves loanee Ethan Ebanks-Landell made his full debut whilst Calvin Andrew also started. On loan Ethan Hamilton made his home debut as Rochdale returned to a 4-4-2 formation. 

Rochdale started well against a Fleetwood side in indifferent form themselves. Ian Henderson will feel he should have done better when a loose ball fell at his feet 18 yards out; his shot flashing across goal. 

The visitors had a glorious chance to open the scoring twenty minutes in. Wes Burns was unselfishly picked out by Nadesan but the striker blazed over from eight yards out.

Fleetwood turned the screw as the half neared its conclusion. Dale only partially cleared a right wing corner and when the ball fell to Coyle, the right back curled an effort that hit the outside of Josh Lillis’ right hand post.

That warning wasn’t heeded and with Fleetwood’s next corner, they took the lead. Another right wing corner wasn’t cleared fully and when Ross Wallace sent the ball back in, Madden stole ahead of his marker to head in from close range.

Keith Hill gave a Football League debut to 16 year old Luke Matheson at the start of the second half as he withdrew Matty Done meaning Joe Rafferty switched to left back, Matheson in at right back.

The change brought about a change in the flow of the game as Dale looked to push forward; Callum Camps vicious dipping shot was just about dealt with by Cairns in the Fleetwood goal.

The major talking point of the game came nine minutes into the second half. A challenge from Coyle on Rafferty saw the Dale man left in a heap and despite the referee initially not awarding a free-kick, Mr Eltringham then blew up leading to a melee with a number of players involved. After a brief stoppage, the County Durham official showed a straight red card to Coyle meaning Joey Barton’s side would play out the remainder of the game with ten men.

From that point, Dale were in the ascendency with Ethan Hamilton and Callum Camps trying from distance but not able to trouble the scoresheet.

With Dale pressing, the pressure got too much with Ian Henderson leading by example to draw Dale level. Stephen Dooley’s perfect right wing cross saw Henderson nip in ahead of Morgan to power a header down the middle of the goal. 

Fleetwood were happy to take a point and tried frustrating their hosts at every opportunity with timewasting tactics which saw goalkeeper Alex Cairns booked as he tried to run down the clock with every goalkick. 

The stopper would earn his wage as he made an instinctive save to deny Henderson in the final ten minutes. The Dale captain latched onto a long ball from Lillis and when he cut back in onto his left foot his curling shot looked destined for the bottom corner until Cairns stuck out a foot to deflect the ball behind for a corner. 

Rochdale just couldn’t add to the scoreline and had to settle for a point and with Barnsley away up next, maybe they have gained a little bit of confidence before heading to South Yorkshire. 

 

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Ebanks-Landell, McNulty, Done (Matheson 46), Dooley (Inman 90), Camps, Hamilton, Holden, Henderson ©, Andrew 
Subs: (not used) Norman, MJ Williams, Delaney, Wilbraham, Adshead 

Fleetwood: Cairns, Coyle, Eastham, Morgan ©, Husband, Holt, R Wallace (Biggins 65), J Wallace, Nadesan (Sheron 56), Madden (Hunter 90), Burns 
Subs: (not used) Jones, McAleny, Hill, Rydel 

Referee:Mr G Eltringham 
Assistants:Mr P Hodskinson & Mr R Merchant 
Fourth Official:Mr J Hull 

Attendance: 2,713 (205 from Fleetwood)