Rochdale 1 - 0 Nottingham Forest

Rochdale and Nottingham Forest players warm up

Peter Vincenti’s 12th minute penalty was enough to earn a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup and knock Championship side Nottingham Forest out. Michail Antonio’s trip on Joe Rafferty earned the spot kick which was dispatched by Vincenti.

Illness and injury decimated Keith Hill’s squad with the manager naming a rather youthful side with many of his first choice players missing. Callum Camps and Joel Logan made their first starts of the season whilst Scott Tanser and Rhys Bennett earned recalls to the starting line-up. Rueben Noble-Lazarus, Stephen Dawson, Ian Henderson and Matt Lund all missed out whilst Jack O’Connell’s loan spell from Blackburn has come to an end.

Against their loftier opponents, Dale’s young side didn’t let the large Spotland crowd overwhelm them and they took the lead from the penalty spot. Joe Rafferty’s positive run into the area drew the foul from Antonio with Vincenti sending Dutch keeper De Vries the wrong way from 12 yards.

The early goal unsettled the visitors and Dale should have doubled their lead just two minutes later. Wonderful play from Camps saw him stride away from Lichaj before crossing perfectly to Vincenti but the Jerseyman’s volley was wayward from 10 yards out.

There was a worrying moment for Dale when Olly Lancashire and keeper Josh Lillis collided with both players receiving treatment but able to continue after a lengthy stoppage.

Underfire Forest boss Stuart Pearce prowled his technical area as his side rarely threatened the Dale defence. Even when an Olly Lancashire mistake allowed Britt Assombalonga in, the £5.5M player couldn’t find the target from inside the area.

With time almost up on the first half, Dale should have doubled their lead. Matt Done, coming back from an offside position stole the ball off Lichaj before rounding the keeper but couldn’t get the ball out from his feet. Dale’s leading scorer fed Jamie Allen who opted to take a touch instead of shooting and the Forest defence managed to smother the ball clear.

Dale almost got a fortuitous second in stoppage time. Done closed down De Vries in the visitors’ goal and blocked his clearance but the ball dropped just over the bar.

Pearce’s half time team talk must have fired up his side as they started the second half looking a different side and almost got back on terms five minutes after the restart. Burke’s trickery caught out Tanser with Veldwijk heading wide from close range.

Assombalonga used his pace to create Forest’s next chance, racing away from Rafferty with Lillis denying him with his legs.

As the half wore on, Dale started to impose themselves more. Done saw his turn and shot go wide whilst the striker’s snap shot flashed across the face of goal.

Deep into stoppage time, Veldwijk brought a fine save from Lillis with a looping header but the former European Cup winners couldn’t breach a resolute Dale defence.

Rochdale go through to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the second season in succession and will await Monday evening’s draw with anticipation.

Attendance: 6,791

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Eastham, Lancashire (c), Tanser, Bennett, Allen (Andrew 90), Camps (Cywka 83), Logan (Bunney 70), Done, Vincenti
Subs: (not used) Hery, Diba, Rose, Cannon

Notts Forest: De Vries, Lichaj, Wilson, Hobbs (c), Fox (McLaughlin 74), C Burke (Patterson 89), Vaughan, Tesche, Antonio, Assombalonga, Veldwijk
Subs: (not used) Darlow, Lascelles, Lang, O Burke, Osborn

Referee: Mr G Sutton
Assistant Referee: Mr R Wigglesworth & Mr R Atkin
Fourth Official: Mr M Hanley