Rochdale drew one all with bury thanks to another Rickie Lambert equaliser in the second half. Full match report with player ratings online now.

It was derby day at Spotland as that lot from t'other side of Heywood came to town.  Derby games against bury at Spotland are quite predictable really in that you just know we aren't going to win and it will be a bloody awful game.  Not only that but it was absolutely freezing and very unpleasant.

Absolutely spot on!  The game finished 1-1 thanks to an awful decision to award a penalty which Rickie Lambert struck home after Tom Youngs put the buckets ahead.

The conditions weren't pretty and the pitch was more suited to building sand castles on than playing football although it has to be said, we've not really seen any "football" for weeks anyway!

Dale had injury problems galore going into the game and were also without Rory McArdle who was playing for Northern Ireland Under 21's on the telebox.  Griffiths and Gallimore were still out injured so we had to put up with John Boardman in defence alongside David Baylissio.  The rest of the team was the same as Saturday meaning we lined up with Sgt Gilko in net, a back four of Harry Ramsden, Stan Boardman, Dave Baylissio and Alan Goodall, a four man midfield of Lee Cartwright, Gary Jones, John Doolan and Ernie Cooksey.  Linford Christie and Rickie Lambert were up front.

It was clear from the off that we weren't going to be watching anything other than hoofball and when we did try and play football, we couldn't do it.  In the first half especially, I don't remember a Dale player passing to another Dale player on more than about two occasions.

With about twenty minutes on the clock Ernie Cooksey had a bit of a half chance but it lacked anything remotely like power and Kasper Schmeichel had no problems in just picking it up.

Dale should really have scored shortly after that and had three chances to do so within a few seconds.  Linford Christie had a shot which was blocked and fell to Rickie Lambert who also shot and hit the post.  The ball got cleared but only as far as Gary Jones who hit a first time shot over the bar.

Thankfully, a poor half of football came to a close.

We were forced into a change for the second half as Alan Goodall, who took a smack in the face in the first half, was replaced by Chris Dagnall.  He went on the left wing and Ernie Cooksey went to left back.  It later turned out that Goodall's injury was a fractured cheekbone which could see him out for six weeks.  Not the best timing with Gallimore, Griffiths and Jackson out injured!

Just a couple of minutes into the second half and Rochdale should have been ahead.  Christie broke clear of two defenders and got to the by-line before having a shot.  Schmeichel cleared with his foot and it fell to Jones who just had to smash it straight and it would be 1-0 but he miss-hit it and Schmeichel saved again.  I was fuming with Christie at the time because there were two players in a much better position than him to shoot but having done so, Jones should have finished it.

This seemed to be the alarm call to let bury back into the game and they looked to attack.  Tom Youngs was clearly fouled by Bayliss in the box but the referee waved away the visitors' penalty claims to the relief of the Dale fans.

It wasn't long before it was 1-0 to bury though, just two minutes later in fact.

Dave Challinor put a huge throw into the box which was flicked on to Tom Youngs who had got in front of Boardman and was left with an easy finish.  This sparked off mass celebrations in the away end with the bury fans starting a conga line down the stand.  What a bunch of muppets, they go 1-0 up and start a bloody conga line!?  Only thing that was missing from it was them all falling down the steps.

Lee Cartwright was having an awful game and was replaced by Gary Brown after the hour mark.

It should have been 2-0 shortly after when Matt Gilks made a howler allowing David Buchanan in but his shot flew over the bar when he had all the net to aim for.  A huge let off for Dale and in particular, Gilks.

With twenty minutes left, Rochdale were back in the game.  Christie broke through one on one with Schmeichel and should have shot but he tried to take the goalkeeper on and went down very easily.  Not only did he go down easily but Schmeichel CLEARLY took the ball and pushed it clear as Christie toppled over.  I was fuming with Christie and never even imagined anything like a penalty but sure enough, the referee pointed to the spot!  We stood round wetting ourselves with laughter at the decision and couldn't believe it.  Rickie Lambert replaced Gary Jones as the penalty taker and slotted it home sending the keeper the wrong way. 

We were extremely fortunate, again, but weren't arguing.

Dale piled the pressure on to try and get a winner but it didn't come and we had to make do with a point which at home to a team who haven't been above you all season, isn't good enough.  When you think about it as well, they should have won but for two very poor penalty decisions. 

Another poor performance from Rochdale has stopped them from winning.  The pitch was poor and difficult to play on obviously but it's the same for both teams and at times, we made bury look like a tidy outfit which they clearly aren't.  It's no wonder we've only won ONE game in our last FOURTEEN games stretching back to the beginning of December.  SIX points from a possible FORTY TWO isn't good enough.  Time is ticking Steve!

Player Ratings:

Matt Gilks 6 Nearly gifted them a goal and looked unsure on a couple of occasions.  No chance with the goal like

Simon Ramsden 7 Impressive again.  Since his first game at Oxford where I didn't think he played particularly well, he's impressed me.  Much better than Goodhind

Alan Goodall 6 Bit below par but everyone was in the first half and he took a bad knock and fractured his cheekbone so had to be replaced at half time

Jon Boardman 6 Improved but still makes mistakes

Dave Bayliss 7 Another decent game for Bayliss although, again, he was lucky not to have given a away a penalty

Lee Cartwright 4 Awful performance from Carts.  Nothing went for him and he looked the worst player on the park.

Ernie Cooksey 5 Off the pace again I thought, obviously isn't comfortable at left wing and was even asked to play left back but not much else can be done at the moment

John Doolan 6 Didn't do too badly, just didn't have the effect he has done in the games he has played so far.

Gary Jones 7 As hard working as you'd expect from the captain who had another decent game, second half particularly.

RICKIE LAMBERT 7 Did well and scored the equaliser.  Caused a lot of problems for the Cheltenham defence.

Iyesden Christie 6 Seemed to lack effort a few times and failed to hold the ball up.  Causes a few problems but we're missing Sturrock that's for sure.

Subs:  

Chris Dagnall 6 Didn't do much when he came on for the second half

Gary Brown 7 Impressive when he came on.  Definitely a chance of him starting ahead of Cartwright, especially at home

Photo: Action Images

Rochdale Polls