Rochdale battled to a deserved 2-1 win over Port Vale at a wet and windy Spotland, as goals from Ian Henderson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing gave them victory. The away side took the lead when Chris Birchall slid the ball past Dale keeper Joel Castro Pereira but Henderson hit back with a penalty just before half time. Mendez-Laing grabbed the winner when he finished into the bottom corner after James Hooper's shot was blocked. Carl Dickinson was sent off for a kick late on to compile the away side's misery, as they slipped to their first defeat in 5 games.
Keith Hill made several changes from the team that lost to Gillingham in midweek with Scott Tanser and Joe Bunney coming in for Tom Kennedy and Donal McDermott respectively. John O'Sullivan was also given his debut after signing on loan from Blackburn in midweek, whilst James Hooper was handed his first competitive start having made his first appearance in the loss at Gillingham. It was Port Vale who enjoyed most of the early possession but when Dale got hold of the ball they quickly engineered an opportunity. Hooper twisted away from an opposition player before finding Henderson, and his chipped effort was well saved by away keeper Jak Alnwick. The tricky conditions were clearly affecting Dale's play as the ball held up on numerous occasions and Port Vale were given a helping hand for the opening goal by the pitch. Rhys Bennett's clearance rebounded into the path of Birchall and he reacted quickly to take the ball around Pereira and finish well despite the efforts from the despairing Tanser. Dale were growing in frustration with their opponents as they seemed to go down very easily on numerous occasions and after O'Sullivan was booked for a late challenge the away players seemed more concerned with trying to get the attacker sent off than playing the game. Keith Hill recognised this, introducing McDermott for the disappointed O'Sullivan before the half hour mark. Calvin Andrew had a great chance to equalise when he bullied his way past an away defender but his shot produced another excellent save from Alnwick. Dale were causing the Port Vale defence all sorts of problems with their intricate passing and clever movement and when Andrew flicked a clever ball round the back for the onrushing Hooper, Dickinson brought down the young striker to give Dale a penalty and a clear way back into the match. The away side sparked mass protests, complaining that the foul was committed outside the box, but referee Darren England ruled that the offence occurred inside and Henderson duly put away the resulting spot kick. Dale were looking very dangerous and threatened to add another before half time when Henderson broke free and found McDermott, but the midfielder couldn't get enough contact on his header.
Dale came out flying after half time with Henderson continuing to threaten as he fired over from McDermott's cut back before Andrew had an effort cleared off the line. Port Vale were determined to claim the point that they came for, as they cleared the ball off the line once again just minutes later after Olly Lancashire powered a header goal-wards.
Keith Hill made several changes from the team that lost to Gillingham in midweek with Scott Tanser and Joe Bunney coming in for Tom Kennedy and Donal McDermott respectively. John O'Sullivan was also given his debut after signing on loan from Blackburn in midweek, whilst James Hooper was handed his first competitive start having made his first appearance in the loss at Gillingham. It was Port Vale who enjoyed most of the early possession but when Dale got hold of the ball they quickly engineered an opportunity. Hooper twisted away from an opposition player before finding Henderson, and his chipped effort was well saved by away keeper Jak Alnwick. The tricky conditions were clearly affecting Dale's play as the ball held up on numerous occasions and Port Vale were given a helping hand for the opening goal by the pitch. Rhys Bennett's clearance rebounded into the path of Birchall and he reacted quickly to take the ball around Pereira and finish well despite the efforts from the despairing Tanser. Dale were growing in frustration with their opponents as they seemed to go down very easily on numerous occasions and after O'Sullivan was booked for a late challenge the away players seemed more concerned with trying to get the attacker sent off than playing the game. Keith Hill recognised this, introducing McDermott for the disappointed O'Sullivan before the half hour mark. Calvin Andrew had a great chance to equalise when he bullied his way past an away defender but his shot produced another excellent save from Alnwick. Dale were causing the Port Vale defence all sorts of problems with their intricate passing and clever movement and when Andrew flicked a clever ball round the back for the onrushing Hooper, Dickinson brought down the young striker to give Dale a penalty and a clear way back into the match. The away side sparked mass protests, complaining that the foul was committed outside the box, but referee Darren England ruled that the offence occurred inside and Henderson duly put away the resulting spot kick. Dale were looking very dangerous and threatened to add another before half time when Henderson broke free and found McDermott, but the midfielder couldn't get enough contact on his header.
Dale came out flying after half time with Henderson continuing to threaten as he fired over from McDermott's cut back before Andrew had an effort cleared off the line. Port Vale were determined to claim the point that they came for, as they cleared the ball off the line once again just minutes later after Olly Lancashire powered a header goal-wards.