Rochdale produced their best performance of the season as they deservedly claimed all three points at league leaders Walsall. Ian Henderson gave Dale the lead early on when he swept home from Andy Cannon's cut back before a second half brace from Calvin Andrew secured the win. The result sees Dale move up to 9th whilst Walsall slip to 3rd and ensure that Dale make the perfect start to 2016.
Keith Hill made one change to the side that drew with Scunthorpe on Monday as Josh Lillis returned in goal in place of Joel Castro Pereira; who was recalled to parent club Manchester United in the week. Dale had played with real intensity and desire in that draw and they started similarly at the Banks' Stadium, with Henderson testing goalkeeper Neil Etheridge with a chip within the first minute. It wasn't long after that when Dale took a surprise lead when Andy Cannon stole the ball back in a good area, before getting to the byline and providing the perfect cut-back for Henderson to calmly slot in for his 9th goal of the season. This was a shock to the home crowd as they had seen their side move to the top of the table with 5 successive wins and hadn't yet lost under new manager Sean O'Driscoll. However the Dale dominance showed little signs of halting early on as Cannon threatened to make it 2-0 with a fierce drive from the edge of the area which forced a good save from Etheridge. Cannon was finding a lot of room out on the right hand side but was found guilty of wasting this space on multiple occasions through poor balls into the area. The home side were also finding some joy down the same side but created little in a first half which Dale controlled well.
At only 1-0 Dale fans had right to be concerned against one of the best teams in the league but they came out for the second half with the same intensity that had unsettled the Walsall defence in the first half. Andrew; who seemed to win every ball that was sent up to him, was causing the home defence all sorts of problems with his pace and strength and the striker had a shot deflected which nearly looped over Etheridge. It wasn't long before he did get on the scoresheet however as Dale won a corner and Andrew stooped low to flick McDermott's corner into the corner of the net to make it 2-0. Walsall looked shellshocked and were unable to test Lillis in the Dale goal yet this could also be put down to the endeavour of the Dale midfield and defence, most notably Matty Lund, who put in another brilliant display and looks to be back to his best. Henderson forced Etheridge into another low save when he was played through by yet another Calvin Andrew flick as Dale looked to put the game beyond doubt. Dale did eventually make it 3-0 when Callum Camps found McDermott with an excellent through ball and the Irishman found Andrew once again, and he made no mistake to pass the ball past the despairing Etheridge. Walsall fans had begun to leave by this point, yet it must be noted that despite the result, Walsall's defence had looked very calm and effective on the ball and from an unbiased perspective it is easy to see how the Saddlers have done so well this season. Yet on the day it was Dale who completely outplayed there opponents, even threatening a fourth goal late on when Peter Vincenti and Henderson had efforts blocked following some magical dribbling from McDermott but it would finish 3-0.
Full Time: Walsall 0-3 Rochdale
Man of the Match: Calvin Andrew
Keith Hill made one change to the side that drew with Scunthorpe on Monday as Josh Lillis returned in goal in place of Joel Castro Pereira; who was recalled to parent club Manchester United in the week. Dale had played with real intensity and desire in that draw and they started similarly at the Banks' Stadium, with Henderson testing goalkeeper Neil Etheridge with a chip within the first minute. It wasn't long after that when Dale took a surprise lead when Andy Cannon stole the ball back in a good area, before getting to the byline and providing the perfect cut-back for Henderson to calmly slot in for his 9th goal of the season. This was a shock to the home crowd as they had seen their side move to the top of the table with 5 successive wins and hadn't yet lost under new manager Sean O'Driscoll. However the Dale dominance showed little signs of halting early on as Cannon threatened to make it 2-0 with a fierce drive from the edge of the area which forced a good save from Etheridge. Cannon was finding a lot of room out on the right hand side but was found guilty of wasting this space on multiple occasions through poor balls into the area. The home side were also finding some joy down the same side but created little in a first half which Dale controlled well.
At only 1-0 Dale fans had right to be concerned against one of the best teams in the league but they came out for the second half with the same intensity that had unsettled the Walsall defence in the first half. Andrew; who seemed to win every ball that was sent up to him, was causing the home defence all sorts of problems with his pace and strength and the striker had a shot deflected which nearly looped over Etheridge. It wasn't long before he did get on the scoresheet however as Dale won a corner and Andrew stooped low to flick McDermott's corner into the corner of the net to make it 2-0. Walsall looked shellshocked and were unable to test Lillis in the Dale goal yet this could also be put down to the endeavour of the Dale midfield and defence, most notably Matty Lund, who put in another brilliant display and looks to be back to his best. Henderson forced Etheridge into another low save when he was played through by yet another Calvin Andrew flick as Dale looked to put the game beyond doubt. Dale did eventually make it 3-0 when Callum Camps found McDermott with an excellent through ball and the Irishman found Andrew once again, and he made no mistake to pass the ball past the despairing Etheridge. Walsall fans had begun to leave by this point, yet it must be noted that despite the result, Walsall's defence had looked very calm and effective on the ball and from an unbiased perspective it is easy to see how the Saddlers have done so well this season. Yet on the day it was Dale who completely outplayed there opponents, even threatening a fourth goal late on when Peter Vincenti and Henderson had efforts blocked following some magical dribbling from McDermott but it would finish 3-0.
Full Time: Walsall 0-3 Rochdale
Man of the Match: Calvin Andrew