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Match Report: Rochdale 1-2 Doncaster Rovers (Rochdale are relegated)
Saturday, 1st May 2021 16:56 by Chaff

A 2-1 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers sealed our fate as Rochdale were relegated from League One.

League Two was in sight. Dale needed nothing less than a miracle to avoid being relegated. Wigan were 4 points ahead with just just games left. It wasn't mathematical yet, there wasn't the big "R" next to our name name.

It is now.

We had a media blackout meaning I've got to do some work and type the team out. It looked like a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1 with McNulty and Shaughnessy dropping to the bench to make room for Matty Lund and Aaron Morley, maybe Morley would go into a back 3? Dale lined up:

Jay Lynch
Ryan McLaughlin
Eoghan O'Connell
Gabriel Osho
Aaron Morley
Jimmy Keohane
Matty Lund
Ollie Rathbone
Conor Grant
Matty Done
Jake Beasley

The bench bench consisted of Bazunu, McNulty, Dooley, Shaughnessy, Baah, Humphrys and Newby.

Dale went agonisingly close with just 3 minutes gone when a wonderful ball from McLaughlin was almost turned into the net by a Donny defender. A positive start for Dale.

Doncaster's Jason Eyenga-Lokilo went just wide of the near post with a low driven effort on 5 minutes.

Matty Lund had a great opportunity to give Dale the lead but his turn and shot was mistimed and went over the bar.

WHAT A SAVE!! Keohane was denied by a wonderful save by the Doncaster keeper after some good work in the box from Dale ending with Rathbone laying the ball off to Swiss Army Jimmy but his driven shot was brilliantly saved by Jones.

Matty Done dragged a shot wide of the goal from the right hand side of the 18 yard box on 14 minutes.

A good move from Doncaster on the right hand side saw Okenabirhie drag a shot wide as well.

There's definitely goals in this game.

I was certain we'd scored with a header from Lund which hit the bar and looked like it went over the line, arms up celebrating in the Chaff household but the referee and linesman were unmoved! I've no idea how that stayed out!

Wigan went 1-0 down to Hull as Dale went in search of goals and were looking the better side in this one.

Wigan then went level a couple of minutes of going behind.

And then with half an hour on the clock. Dale were behind. Morley got beat to the ball and Richard stole in and was left with a simple finish to make it 1-0 to Doncaster.

The fat lady is warming up.

Jimmy Keohane went close again when he shot from the edge of the box but his low effort was saved again. Conor Grant did brilliantly to set him up from the left side of the box.

Conor Grant absolutely rifled an effort goalwards on the half volley but it was brilliantly blocked.

Another great chance for Dale as Rathbone went close after a wonderful touch set him up on his left foot but his effort was saved and went out for a corner but the referee blew for half time before we could take the corner.

Half time and as it stood, Rochdale would be relegated from League One. Even as Wimbledon and Wigan were both losing.

Second half started with Martin and Paul telling us they'd seen a replay of the Lund over the line incident and were sure the ball went over the line. That's not annoying is it?

Matty Done had a good effort but he skewed his effort well wide on 53 minutes.

And there it is.

A second Doncaster goal.

Richards again with the goal, torn apart with a good ball and a great finish from the Doncaster front man, leaving Lynch with no chance.

Another sloppy piece of play saw McLaughlin give the ball away and Doncaster get a shot away which was well saved by Lynch.

Triple sub for Dale with Baah, Humphrys and Dooley came on for Grant, Lund and McLaughlin.

I'll be honest, I've stopped caring what goes on at this point but watching on iFollow means you have to endure the "Come on Dale!" every few minutes from the CEO which I could really f*****g do without.

Morley went close with a first time low effort which was well saved on 69 minutes.

Another good save from Lynch kept it from being 3-0.

Alex Newby came on for Aaron Morley. Not that it matters now.

Dale got a goal back through Matty Done on 83 minutes. A shot from Humphrys was parried by the keeper and Done finished into the roof of the net to make it 2-1.

There were 6 minutes of time added on.

There is the whistle.

Rochdale are relegated from League One.

Photo: Action Images



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