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Match Report: Rochdale 2-1 Swindon Town
Tuesday, 13th Apr 2021 21:05 by Chaff

Dale finally won at home after a week where off-field antics have overshadowed the relegation battle we're in.

A huge relegation battle fixture almost takes a back seat this week with more concerns off the pitch than on the pitch at the moment. Swindon Town were the visitors to Spotland on a sunny but chilly Tuesday night.

BBM made three changes with McShane, Morley and Dooley coming in at the expense of Roberts, Shaughnessy and Done who was out following his head injury on Saturday. In bigger news, Matty Lund was back from injury.

Swindon had the opening chance of the game when Hallam Hope curled one just over from wide on the left with just a couple of minutes on the clock.

Swindon had another chance on 7 minutes when Dale gave the ball away really sloppily, twice, and allowed a Swindon attacker to get a shot away but Lynch turned it wide for a corner.

Conor Grant picked up a knock and received treatment for a couple of minutes but was able to return to the play eventually.

GOOOOOAL!!! Rochdale lead 1-0. Superb ball in from Ryan McLaughlin and the ball found it's way to Jimmy Keohane at the back post who curled it into the top right corner in beautiful fashion for his 7th goal of the season.

Jack Payne had an effort on goal for the visitors that was easy for Lynch but there was a clear foul in the build up on Ryan McLaughlin which the referee completely ignored.

Dale had a chance when Aaron Morley hit a low effort that was saved by Lee Camp.

Another great chance for Dale as Beesley was put through one on one but right of the box and he tried turning but completely cocked up his touch and the chance went. Why didn't he just drive goalwards and shoot?

What a save by Lynch!! Superb save from a massive cock up from Stephen Dooley who gave the ball away in a really dangerous position on the edge of his own box but Lynch came racing out to make a brilliant save. Huge let off for Dale, and Dooley.

Another great chance, this time for Dale as a long ball forward bypassed the Swindon defender going up against Beesley and Rathbone ran on and found himself one on one but rushed his effort and Camp made the save?

A freekick for Swindon from 30 yards was well hit by Twine and Lynch made a save and the ball went out for the corner as Swindon added more pressure.

With the half time whistle nearing, Dale had another opportunity with Beesley who had a shot well saved by Camp and Keohane on the follow up had his cross deflected wide for a corner and that was the last action of the first half.

Very much a half where both sides had chances to score and mistakes were aplenty but Dale led at half time. Could we finally win at home for only the second time this season?!

Dale started the second half quite well and did have the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled offside. Grant and Dooley linked up well with Dooley forcing Camp into a good save that rebounded to Beesley who headed home but he was offside.

Jay Lynch was called into action again just after that when Twine shot from 20 yards low and hard but it was a regulation save for Lynch.

Jack Payne was causing issues in the middle of the pitch and after creating the previous chance, he also set up Brett Pitman, no stranger to scoring against us, but his effort was sliced wide of the goal.

Matty Palmer hit an effort narrowly over the bar after yet more good work from Payne.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLL!!!! A fantastic breakaway from Ollie Rathbone who lays off to Beesley who lays off to Dooley who pulls back to Beesley again and he lays off to Conor Grant who scores his first ever goal to make it 2-0 to Dale. WE'RE GONNA WIN AT HOME!!

Another great chance for Dale, Keohane had chance to shoot but squared to Morley whose shot was deflected out. Twenty minutes left. Dale have done well but Swindon have been appalling so far as well.

Another good breakaway from Dale almost resulted in a third. Beesley did really well on the touchline to win the ball and break, he laid off to Rathbone on the edge of the box and he laid it off to Keohane who curled it high and wide over the bar.

Gabriel Osho took the ball down really well from a free kick before shooting but his effort was weak and easily saved by Camp with just over 5 minutes left.

More good work from Beesley breaking forward resulted in Rathbone picking the ball up on the edge of the box and his curling effort was narrowly wide but always curling away from goal.

I've not seen a team lose possession as much as Swinon have here in years, well not apart from us anyway!

Swindon score! Aaron Morley was far too weak on the touchline and lost possession as Swindon broke and the cross was bundled home by Garrick to make it 2-1 with three minutes of normal time left.

We can't balls this up can we?

Jack Payne hit an effort over the bar as Swindon were adding more pressure.

Jim McNulty replaced Ryan McLaughlin with Osho going to right back. I don't like this.

Conor Shaughnessy was being readied as well. He replaced Conor Grant.

A very nervy end of the game finally came to an end and Dale had won their first home game since the beginning of October 2020 and only our SECOND win at home in any competition all season!

A massive result but the other results went against us as well.


Player Ratings:

Jay Lynch - 7 (Very good from Lynch, pulled off a great save in the first half and never looked like being beaten)

Ryan McLaughlin - 7 (Did well, big part in the opening goal as well)

Eoghan O'Connell - 7 (Much better from the captain. Solid as a rock and even got forward well from defence)

Paul McShane - 7 (Very assured performance)

Gabriel Osho - 7 (This guy keeps impressing doesn't he)

Jimmy Keohane - 7 (Grabbed the opening goal and had a few chances to get a couple more)

Aaron Morley - 6 (Did alright overall, but big mistake to lead to their goal)

Stephen Dooley - 7 (Did really well when he wasn't in his own third of the pitch!)

Ollie Rathone - 7 (Thought he was back to what we all want him to be tonight. Direct and dangerous when he drives forward)

Conor Grant - 7 (Bagged his first goal in professional football and showed that he's got bags of ability)

Jake Beesley - 7 (Thought he did really well up front. Drove forward really well and could have had a couple if he'd chose different options)


Subs:

Jim McNulty - Not on long enough
Conor Shaughnessy - Not on long enough

Photo: Action Images



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