Football: Burton 0 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale earned their first away win of the season with a narrow victory over Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday evening (20 October). Matty Lund`s header four minutes into the second half was enough to earn the points for Brian Barry-Murphy`s patched up side who move up to 17th in the table.

The Dale manager was without his two first choice central defenders with Eoghan O'Connell (illness) and Paul McShane (calf) missing which meant a debut for 18-year-old Hayden Roberts who signed on transfer deadline day on loan from Brighton.

The game didn't really come to life in the first half until the 21st minute when Burton striker Lucas Akins crashed an effort off the post from a left wing cross.

Dale never really troubled O'Hare, alex Newby fired wide from a good position in front of goal whilst Jake Beesley saw a close range shot blocked; Ollie Rathbone`s follow up ruled offside.

The visitors took the lead with the their first attempt after the re-start. Aaron Morley’s free-kick on the right was flicked on by Matty Lund with the ball looping over O'Hare and into the net for his second of the season.

Burton, who started the day ahead of Rochdale on goal difference, responded well to going behind and thought they had equalised within two minutes. A free-kick was played into the area with John-Joe O`Toole heading past Bazunu but a referee’s whistle for a push cut short the celebrations.

Beesley was denied a first goal for the club when Sam Hughes bravely defended the loose ball with the Dale striker about to strike.

The wonderfully named Indiana Vassilev, on loan from Aston Villa was a real danger and whipped in some delightful crosses that nobody in a yellow shirt could get on the end of.

The USA U20 international almost scored himself with a cross from the left that needed Bazunu to tip away before it sneaked under the crossbar.

Burton came on strong in final moments but Dale held strong despite losing Jim McNulty to injury meaning a re-shuffle in defence.

With the Brewers pushing for an equaliser Ollie Rathbone burst away and his driving run divided the defence; O`Hara getting down low to push away the Dale man’s shot.

 

Rochdale: Bazunu, Keohane, McNulty (McLaughlin 84), Roberts, Bola, Lund, Morley, Ryan, Newby (Tavares 75), Rathbone (c), Beesley
Substitutes: (not used) Chalton, Dooley, Done, Hopper,, Brierley

Burton: O'Hara, Eardley (Ennis 63), O`Toole, Hughes, Wallace, Fox (Varney 80), Quinn (c), Powell (Gilligan 63), Vassilev, Hemmings, Akins
Substitutes: (not used) Sharman-Lowe, Daniel, Lawless, Roles

Referee: Mr S Purkiss
Assistants: Mr P Stonier and Mr O Bickle
Fourth Official: Mr K Hughes