Rochdale and Scunthorpe played out a pulsating game at Glanford park which eventually finished 1-1. Ian Henderson gave Dale the lead in the 22nd minute when he diverted Callum Camps' shot into the corner. The home side equalised however when the two centre backs combined from a free kick which resulted in David Mirfin heading past Joel Castro Pereiera. Both sides had chances to win it with Luke Daniels saving well from Henderson and Andy Cannon, whilst Darius Henderson hit the post late on for Scunthorpe.
Keith Hill kept the same side that beat Colchester last Saturday, although there was place on the bench for captain Jamie Allen, who featured in the first team squad for the first time since October. Dale started the brighter of the two teams, which could perhaps be put down to Scunthorpe having played on Boxing Day but Dale were showing a real desire in the early stages, winning several corners, but it was the home side who had the first meaningful chance of the game. Peter Vincenti originally did well to keep hold of the ball but then could only find Luke Williams who bore down on goal only to be denied by an excellent challenge from Olly Lancashire. Vincenti then headed wide from a corner in Dale's first chance before contributing to the first goal of the game. Camps received the ball from Cannon's throw before playing a neat one-two with Vincenti, and his weak shot fell directly in the path of Henderson, and the experienced forward expertly turned the ball past Daniels to give Dale the lead. After the goal Dale looked much the better team and threatened to add another through Vincenti's long range strike and Donal McDermott's whipped cross which was nearly finished by Henderson once again. However, just as Dale were starting to exert control on the match, the home side found an equaliser. Scott Laird's free kick found Niall Canavan unmarked in acres of space, and he headed back for his central defensive partner Mirfin, who's flicked header snuck in at the far post. Scunthorpe nearly added another soon after when Tommy Rowe's cross found the dangerous Paddy Madden and his header was well saved by Castro Pereira in the Dale goal. Dale had a great chance to take a lead into the break when Calvin Andrew met Michael Rose's corner, but his header was kept out on the line by Daniels.
Dale came out for the second half fired up even further, demonstrated by the side's willingness to fly into tackles. This backfired on a couple of occasions, resulting in yellow cards for Matthew Lund and Lancashire, but on the main front it was excellent to see such desire to win the ball back and attack. Dale were inches away from taking the lead when Henderson cleverly flicked on McDermott's free kick, but the shot which looked destined for the corner was brilliantly saved by Daniels. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, on as a substitute for McDermott created an excellent chance for himself when he persevered and made his way past three Scunthorpe defenders, albeit with the help of a few lucky deflections, only to fire wide of the post when a cutback to Henderson would have perhaps been the better option. Andrew also came close when Daniels was caught in no-mans-land with a poor punch, but his effort dropped just over the cross bar. Despite all the Dale pressure it was Scunthorpe who created the best chance to snatch all three points late on. Ex-Dale man Scott Wiseman whipped in a brilliant cross for Darius Henderson, who managed to hit the post when it looked easier to score. This would have been extremely unfair on Dale who had dominated the majority of the match, although Keith Hill probably felt his side deserved all three points, especially after Daniels denied Cannon and Mendez-Laing late on. A good point for Dale however and a much improved performance ahead of Saturday's trip to top of the table Walsall.
Full Time: Scunthorpe 1-1 Rochdale
Man of the Match: Andy Cannon
Keith Hill kept the same side that beat Colchester last Saturday, although there was place on the bench for captain Jamie Allen, who featured in the first team squad for the first time since October. Dale started the brighter of the two teams, which could perhaps be put down to Scunthorpe having played on Boxing Day but Dale were showing a real desire in the early stages, winning several corners, but it was the home side who had the first meaningful chance of the game. Peter Vincenti originally did well to keep hold of the ball but then could only find Luke Williams who bore down on goal only to be denied by an excellent challenge from Olly Lancashire. Vincenti then headed wide from a corner in Dale's first chance before contributing to the first goal of the game. Camps received the ball from Cannon's throw before playing a neat one-two with Vincenti, and his weak shot fell directly in the path of Henderson, and the experienced forward expertly turned the ball past Daniels to give Dale the lead. After the goal Dale looked much the better team and threatened to add another through Vincenti's long range strike and Donal McDermott's whipped cross which was nearly finished by Henderson once again. However, just as Dale were starting to exert control on the match, the home side found an equaliser. Scott Laird's free kick found Niall Canavan unmarked in acres of space, and he headed back for his central defensive partner Mirfin, who's flicked header snuck in at the far post. Scunthorpe nearly added another soon after when Tommy Rowe's cross found the dangerous Paddy Madden and his header was well saved by Castro Pereira in the Dale goal. Dale had a great chance to take a lead into the break when Calvin Andrew met Michael Rose's corner, but his header was kept out on the line by Daniels.
Dale came out for the second half fired up even further, demonstrated by the side's willingness to fly into tackles. This backfired on a couple of occasions, resulting in yellow cards for Matthew Lund and Lancashire, but on the main front it was excellent to see such desire to win the ball back and attack. Dale were inches away from taking the lead when Henderson cleverly flicked on McDermott's free kick, but the shot which looked destined for the corner was brilliantly saved by Daniels. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, on as a substitute for McDermott created an excellent chance for himself when he persevered and made his way past three Scunthorpe defenders, albeit with the help of a few lucky deflections, only to fire wide of the post when a cutback to Henderson would have perhaps been the better option. Andrew also came close when Daniels was caught in no-mans-land with a poor punch, but his effort dropped just over the cross bar. Despite all the Dale pressure it was Scunthorpe who created the best chance to snatch all three points late on. Ex-Dale man Scott Wiseman whipped in a brilliant cross for Darius Henderson, who managed to hit the post when it looked easier to score. This would have been extremely unfair on Dale who had dominated the majority of the match, although Keith Hill probably felt his side deserved all three points, especially after Daniels denied Cannon and Mendez-Laing late on. A good point for Dale however and a much improved performance ahead of Saturday's trip to top of the table Walsall.
Full Time: Scunthorpe 1-1 Rochdale
Man of the Match: Andy Cannon