Rochdale 0 - 0 Scunthorpe United

Dale and Scunthorpe cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw at the Crown Oil Arena

Rochdale earned their first point of the season after a scrappy 0-0 draw at home to Scunthorpe on Saturday (14 August).

Rochdale edged the first period and went close through Jake Beesley’s diving header that went agonisingly wide whilst Danny Cashman fired over on his full debut. The on-loan Coventry City winger saw a guilt edged chance go begging when he got on the end of a swift Dale move; Rory Watson in the visitors’ goal somehow smothering the chance. Scunthorpe improved after the break but neither goalkeeper was seriously tested as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Taking charge of his first home game, Dale boss Robbie Stockdale made five changes from the defeat at Harrogate on the opening day. Three positive Covid cases inside the Dale camp meant Jim McNulty, Conor Grant and Adie White all missed out with Stockdale giving full debuts to Sam Graham, George Broadbent and Danny Cashman. Eoghan O’Connell returned from injury to take his place in the starting line-up whilst Matty Done also got the nod at left wing back.

Scunthorpe arrived on the back of two straight defeats in league and cup with manager Neil Cox making three changes from their opening day defeat at home to Swindon.

Dale started the better of the two sides with the front three of Cashman, Newby and Beesley causing the visitors defence no end of issues although the final touches were lacking. Beesley saw his turn and shot easy pickings for Watson whilst the big striker went close with a header just a minute later. Some good football from the home side saw Cashman link with Done; the veteran defender picking out Beesley 6 yards out but his diving header flashed across goal and wide.

The best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Cashman. A wonderful move down the right saw Newby swing a ball into the box and with Cashman unmarked as he ran into the area; the on loan winger saw his goal bound effort somehow kept out by Watson.

Scunthorpe increased the intensity after the re-start with both sides cancelling each other out. Jay Lynch patted a couple of shots down as he was rarely tested whilst at the other end, Watson wasn’t seriously stretched. Matty Done and substitute Abraham Odoh firing over the bar the closest Dale came to breaking the deadlock.

Rochdale: Lynch, Graham (Dooley 82), O’Connell ©, Taylor, O’Keeffe, Done, Morley, Broadbent, Cashman (Odoh 65), Newby, Beesley
Substitutes: (not used) Coleman, Keohane, Andrews, Brierley, Dunne

Scunthorpe: Watson, Taft, Onariase, Davis ©, Thompson (O’Malley 82), Pugh, Kenyon (Hippolyte 68), Bunn, Perry, Green, Loft (Beestin 32)
Substitutes: (not used) Balme, Rowe, Jessop, Cameron

Referee: Mr M Coy
Assistants: Mr G Taylor & Mr J Bickerdike
Fourth Official: Mr S Rushton

Attendance: 2,679