Walsall 3 - 2 Rochdale

Rochdale shot themselves in the foot after conceding 3 goals in just 9 first half minutes at an in form Walsall. Olly Lancashire appeared to divert the ball beyond Josh Lillis after 13 minutes with Anthony Forde and Jordy Hiwula beating the offside flag to net the Saddlers 2nd and 3rd minutes later. Keith Hill’s side woke up after the break and almost earned what would have been deserved point when Peter Vincenti drilled past Richard O’Donnell whilst Lancashire finished off a goalmouth scramble to set up a tense last 27 minutes but the mountain was too steep to climb.

With Matt Done gone after signing for Sheffield United on transfer deadline day, Calvin Andrew was given the nod to spearhead the Dale attack whilst youngster Andy Cannon was preferred at right back to Joe Rafferty. Jack O’Connell returned on loan after his deadline day move to Brentford, before being sent back to Spotland for the remainder of the season.

The opening exchanges were pretty even with both sides looking to pres home an early advantage which the Saddlers duly did on 13 minutes.

Anthony Fordes in-swinging corner was met by James O’Connor before being turned in by Dale skipper Olly Lancashire.

1-0 soon became 2-0 when Forde, looking suspiciously offside, raced away to drill beyond Lillis from the edge of the area.

The travelling fans were shell-shocked just 120 seconds later when the home side made it 3-0. A lucky ricochet inside the area saw the ball fall to on loan Manchester City striker Hiwula who swivelled to net the third.

Hill had seen enough and immediately made a double change with Jack O’Connell and Joe Bunney coming on to replace Scott Tanser and Callum Camps.

The changes stemmed the flow of Walsall attack and Dale came close to reducing the deficit just before the interval. Calvin Andrew being denied by a brilliant flying save from his header.

The second period looked a like a formality for the home side as they looked to defend their 3 goal advantage but Hill’s side certainly hadn’t read that script as they set about clawing themselves back into the game.

Peter Vincenti gave the travelling fans hope 10 minutes after the re-start when he drilled home a loose ball after Ian Henderson’s cross was blocked and just 8 minutes later, Dale had their second through Lancashire. The Dale skipper was on hand to turn the ball home after a mêlée inside the area.

Dale pushed on in the last 20 minutes; Lancashire forced O’Donnell into a low save whilst Andrew’s looping header beat the keeper but landed on the roof of the net.

It was unlucky on Dale’s part that they left with nothing after a gallant second half performance that deserved to yield something but as Hill said afterwards, you cannot give a team at this level a 3 goal headstart.

Attendance: 3,567 (183 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Lillis, Tanser (Bunney 25), Lancashire (c), Eastham, Cannon, Dawson, Allen (Logan 75), Camps (O’Connell 25), Henderson, Vincenti, Andrew
Subs: (not used) Rafferty, Noble-Lazarus, Rose, Diba

Walsall: O’Donnell, Purkiss, O’Connor, Downing, Taylor, Chambers (c), Cain (Preston 90), Sawyers, Cook (Henry 71), Forde (Baxendale 46), Hiwula
Subs: (not used) Flanagan, Grimes, Murphy, Mac Gillivray

Referee: Mr S Martin
Assistant Referees: Mr N Smith & Mr J Wilson
Fourth Official: Mr D Meeson