Rochdale triumphed over Shrewsbury in a pulsating match at Spotland last night, with the win moving the home side back into the playoff positions. Dale raced into a 3-0 lead after just 15 minutes, thanks to Peter Vincent, Ian Henderson and Jamie Allen but the away side fought their way back into the game with two goals before half time however they were unable to find an equaliser.
Keith Hill made three changes from the team that lost to Millwall at the weekend as Donal McDermott, Calvin Andrew and Joe Rafferty were all re-introduced. Rafferty resumed the holding midfield role, that he had excelled in previously, in place of Matty Lund who perhaps needed a rest after playing so regularly so soon after recovering from injury. McDermott and Andrew came in for Michael Rose and Joe Bunney and the two combined for Dale's first goal of the evening. McDermott beat his man out wide before being cleaned out by the Shrewsbury centre-back, but Andrew picked up the ball and found Vincenti in the area and the wide-man's scuffed volley proved enough to beat away keeper Mark Halstead to make it 1-0. Dale doubled their lead in the 12th minute when McDermott once again showed great desire to keep Vincenti's pass in play and his cross found the aforementioned, whose header struck the hand of Shrewsbury defender Mark Ellis. Despite his recent penalty miss at Fleetwood, Henderson stepped up and confidently placed his penalty into the top corner. Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon would have been furious to see his side start so slowly against a team with Dale's attacking impetus and his defence were once again at sixes and sevens for Dale's third goal of the evening. McDermott found space inside the Shrewsbury area and his powerful cut-back found captain Jamie Allen, who side footed past Halstead for his first goal in over 18 months. It seemed as if the game was already over at this point, with Shrewsbury looking shellshocked after a 15 minute masterclass from the home side. Hill's side continued to threaten but were perhaps a little too comfortable with the lead as slack defending gifted Shrewsbury a way back into the match. Dale's frailties from set-pieces were once again exposed as Nathaniel Knight-Percival rose highest from Jordan Clark's corner to power a header past Josh Lillis. This inspired away fans to sarcastically sing, 'we're gonna win 4-3' but the goal unsettled Dale and sparked Shrewsbury's attack into life. Former Rochdale striker Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro was causing Andy Cannon all sorts of problems down the left and the pace of the away side's passing was not dissimilar to the football played at Camp Nou at times, although ironically Barcelona were losing at home at this point in time. It was through this excellent attacking interplay that Akpa-Akpro was played through before being felled in the area by Olly Lancashire, giving the referee no option but to award his second penalty of the night. James Collins tucked the penalty away and suddenly the scoreline threatened by the away fans seemed a realistic goal.
As the second half progressed Dale regained a little more control over the match, with Andrew executing the target man role to perfection as his pace and power caused unease amongst the Shrewsbury back line. Andrew did have a chance to get the goal his performance warranted when Henderson sent him through with a delightful outside-foot pass, but he waited too long to pick his spot allowing Ellis to get back and make a challenge. The half was very much end to end as Shrewsbury threw men forward in hope of an equaliser but their chances ultimately came to nothing. The skilful Sullay Kaikai could only shoot straight at Josh Lillis after beating Tom Kennedy and Collins failed to beat the keeper after he beat the offside trap from a flick-on. After the flurry of goals in the first half, both defences were arguably on top in a second half of few clear-cut chances and Hill will have been glad to see his side hang on against a dangerous Shrewsbury that have been so impressive away from home so far this season.
Full Time: Rochdale 3-2 Shrewsbury
Man of the Match: Calvin Andrew
Keith Hill made three changes from the team that lost to Millwall at the weekend as Donal McDermott, Calvin Andrew and Joe Rafferty were all re-introduced. Rafferty resumed the holding midfield role, that he had excelled in previously, in place of Matty Lund who perhaps needed a rest after playing so regularly so soon after recovering from injury. McDermott and Andrew came in for Michael Rose and Joe Bunney and the two combined for Dale's first goal of the evening. McDermott beat his man out wide before being cleaned out by the Shrewsbury centre-back, but Andrew picked up the ball and found Vincenti in the area and the wide-man's scuffed volley proved enough to beat away keeper Mark Halstead to make it 1-0. Dale doubled their lead in the 12th minute when McDermott once again showed great desire to keep Vincenti's pass in play and his cross found the aforementioned, whose header struck the hand of Shrewsbury defender Mark Ellis. Despite his recent penalty miss at Fleetwood, Henderson stepped up and confidently placed his penalty into the top corner. Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon would have been furious to see his side start so slowly against a team with Dale's attacking impetus and his defence were once again at sixes and sevens for Dale's third goal of the evening. McDermott found space inside the Shrewsbury area and his powerful cut-back found captain Jamie Allen, who side footed past Halstead for his first goal in over 18 months. It seemed as if the game was already over at this point, with Shrewsbury looking shellshocked after a 15 minute masterclass from the home side. Hill's side continued to threaten but were perhaps a little too comfortable with the lead as slack defending gifted Shrewsbury a way back into the match. Dale's frailties from set-pieces were once again exposed as Nathaniel Knight-Percival rose highest from Jordan Clark's corner to power a header past Josh Lillis. This inspired away fans to sarcastically sing, 'we're gonna win 4-3' but the goal unsettled Dale and sparked Shrewsbury's attack into life. Former Rochdale striker Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro was causing Andy Cannon all sorts of problems down the left and the pace of the away side's passing was not dissimilar to the football played at Camp Nou at times, although ironically Barcelona were losing at home at this point in time. It was through this excellent attacking interplay that Akpa-Akpro was played through before being felled in the area by Olly Lancashire, giving the referee no option but to award his second penalty of the night. James Collins tucked the penalty away and suddenly the scoreline threatened by the away fans seemed a realistic goal.
As the second half progressed Dale regained a little more control over the match, with Andrew executing the target man role to perfection as his pace and power caused unease amongst the Shrewsbury back line. Andrew did have a chance to get the goal his performance warranted when Henderson sent him through with a delightful outside-foot pass, but he waited too long to pick his spot allowing Ellis to get back and make a challenge. The half was very much end to end as Shrewsbury threw men forward in hope of an equaliser but their chances ultimately came to nothing. The skilful Sullay Kaikai could only shoot straight at Josh Lillis after beating Tom Kennedy and Collins failed to beat the keeper after he beat the offside trap from a flick-on. After the flurry of goals in the first half, both defences were arguably on top in a second half of few clear-cut chances and Hill will have been glad to see his side hang on against a dangerous Shrewsbury that have been so impressive away from home so far this season.
Full Time: Rochdale 3-2 Shrewsbury
Man of the Match: Calvin Andrew