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Rochdale 0-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 5th Nov 2019 21:41

Danny Rowe’s first Town goal was enough to see the Blues to a 1-0 win against Rochdale at Spotland and back to the top of League One. The winger reacted quickly to turn a defensive error past home keeper Jay Lynch in the 53rd minute to win the first ever fixture between the sides.

Boss Paul Lambert made two changes for the Blues’ first ever game against Dale with Jon Nolan and Alan Judge back in the starting XI.

Nolan was at the centre of a four-man midfield for Flynn Downes, who was suspended, while Judge was on the left wing.

Gwion Edwards was on the right of the back four with Kane Vincent-Young out for a few weeks having undergone groin surgery in Doha last week.

Town saw most of the ball in the opening minutes, mainly down the left, with Rochdale struggling to get out of their own half.

However, they were unable to create even a half-chance until the 10th minute when Luke Garbutt blazed well over from 20 yards from Kayden Jackson’s stab back from the edge of the area.

A minute later, Nolan scuffed Edwards’s ball in from the right across the face of goal with the Blues dominating possession in the opening spell.

But in the 14th minute, with their first serious attack of the game, Rochdale almost took the lead.

From a long punt forward, Matt Done sent over a low ball from the left which reached Rekeil Pyke at the back post and his low shot was just diverted past the post by a Town heel.

Two minutes later, Callum Camps struck a well-hit effort from distance which flew beyond Will Norris in the Town goal and also his left post.

Rochdale were seeing more of the ball and on 19 Norris failed to hold a Done cross from the left but was able to claim at the second attempt.

But Town were still having more of the possession without being able to carve out a clear-cut opportunity.

Rochdale, however, came close again in the 22nd minute, Camps playing the ball into the path of Done as he broke into the area but fortunately for the Blues the former Sheffield United man’s shot was straight at Norris.


The home side, with 17-year-old Luke Matheson on the right looking a very promising talent, continued to look the more likely scorers, despite more of the game being played in their half, albeit without Lynch in their goal being threatened.

On 33 Edwards claimed he’d been fouled as he collided with Done as a long ball was pumped forward but referee Scott Oldham waved play on allowing Jimmy Keohane to cut back to Camps, whose strike was blocked by Chambers.

Town came close for the first time in the 36th minute from a Judge corner on the right when Luke Woolfenden’s header from six yards out appeared to go through a crowd of players and hit the post.

The ball was eventually sent back in from the right and James Norwood nodded straight at home keeper Jay Lynch.

Rochdale ended the half on top and on 44 Norwood was booked for a frustrated foul. However, seconds before the whistle, the Blues came within a whisker of going in front.

Following a half-cleared short corner on the right, Garbutt cut inside and unleashed a powerful left-foot strike which slammed against the bar.

There was still time for a Lynch long kick to almost catch out Edwards on halfway, Dale skipper Ian Henderson failing to read the Welshman’s error, before referee Oldham ended the half.

The Blues had had long spells in possession - with the half overall having seen more football than most of Town’s recent away matches - but with Rochdale getting men behind the ball and preventing them from creating a serious chance in open play with both Woolfenden and Garbutt’s efforts against the woodwork from corners.

At the other end, Dale had broken quickly and had carved out enough chances to feel they might well have grabbed a goal before the break.

Aaron Morley attempted an audacious halfway line effort at goal after the ball was laid back to him from the second-half kick-off but failed to trouble Norris.

Blues wingers Judge and Danny Rowe had swapped flanks and in the 53rd minute the former Macclesfield man put the Blues in front with his first ever Town goal.

Edwards sent over a deflected cross from the right, Eoghan O’Connell inadvertently headed back towards his own goal and Rowe nipped in to slip home ahead of the keeper.

On 65 Garbutt smashed a low freekick from 30 yards which Lynch failed to hold but for once Jackson wasn’t able to get there first to score on the rebound and the ball was bundled behind for the first of two corners.

And from the second flag-kick the Blues went very close to making it 2-0, Woolfenden rising highest but flicking his header just past the far post.

Moments later, Rochdale swapped Morley for Jimmy Ryan, then on 70 Paul McShane was switched for Fabio Tavares.

The home side had hardly threatened since the break but on 71 a corner was cleared to Matheson 20 yards out from where the youngster struck a powerful shot which took a deflection on its way over the bar.

Three minutes later, Keohane was sent away in space down the left but his cross was ahead of his team-mates breaking into the box. Soon after, Calvin Andrew replaced Pyke for Dale.

As the game moved into its final quarter of an hour, Judge - still looking for his first Town goal - cut in from the left following a corner which had been cleared back to him and hit a powerful shot which Lynch batted away.

The home side might have levelled in the 78th minute when Keohane’s cross from the left fell to Henderson at the far post but the ex-Canary’s effort lacked any conviction and looped harmlessly over.

Judge hit a freekick from wide on the left only just over in the 81st minute, seconds before Will Keane and Anthony Georgiou replaced Norwood and Rowe.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes Rochdale began to send more balls into the box, but with Woolfenden and Chambers remaining resolute, as they had all evening. With two minutes remaining Andre Dozzell took over from Judge.

The Blues saw out six minutes of injury time in relative comfort and came close to making it 2-0 when Dozzell fed in Jackson but Lynch was off his line quickly to block.

After a first half which the home side will have felt they shaded, certainly in terms of chances, Town were very much on top in the second and might well have added to their lead with Judge twice going close and Woolfenden’s header only just the wrong side of the post. Norris was a spectator for the most part.

The win - the Blues’ seventh on their travels this season - puts Town back to the top on goal difference from Wycombe with a game in hand on the Chairboys, who visit Portman Road later this month.

However, it’s FA Cup first round action for the first time since 1956 on Saturday when Lincoln City are in Suffolk.

Rochdale: Lynch, O’Connell, Williams, Camps, Pyke (Andrew 74), Keohane, McShane (Tavares 70), Done, Morley (Ryan 66), Henderson (c), Matheson. Unused: McLaughlin, Wade, Bradley, Hopper.

Town: Norris, Edwards, Woolfenden, Chambers (c), Garbutt, Rowe (Georgiou 81), Nolan, Skuse, Judge (Dozzell 88), Norwood (Keane 81), Jackson. Unused: Holy, Huws, Kenlock, Wilson. Referee: Scott Oldham (Lancashire). Att: 3,150 (Town: 906).


Photo: Action Images



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shefki86 added 21:43 - Nov 5
We'll keep taking the 1-0's COYBs
10

martin587 added 21:49 - Nov 5
Not the best of games and nothing much to shout about but it's 3 points.Well done lads.
Long drive back to Southend but still happy with the win.👍
12

Saxonblue74 added 21:50 - Nov 5
Guess it should be reassuring to be winning with such poor performances. Average 2 points per game from the last 6 is promotion "form". Let's hope performances improve to match our league position. Just beginning to create a little daylight between auto promotion places and 3rd spot. Great support from the Blue Army yet again.
13

cat added 21:52 - Nov 5
Job done. Another less than convincing performance but the nailed on away win is in the bag. Get the home form sorted and get ourselves out of second gear then we should be good.
8

jdtractor96 added 22:00 - Nov 5
Very difficult to watch at times but another resilient performance and 3 points. Chambers MOTM for me. Led by example tonight with important blocks and half a dozen huge headers towards the end. COYB
9

Pendejo added 22:02 - Nov 5
Praise the 906, November mid-week in Rochdale, I'd say that's a decent turn out, especially as it's a rearranged game.

Another 3 points, another clean sheet. Still a long long way to go.

COYB!
9

ShropshireBluenago09 added 22:03 - Nov 5
Lambert deserves the credit for our away form.
4

runaround added 22:13 - Nov 5
Massive result tonight especially with Peterbrough hilariously losing again. 5 points clear of third with 1 or 2 games in hand of all of the other Challengers is an excellent position to be in. Happy days
7

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 22:15 - Nov 5
Thought we were pretty dominant second half, to be honest. And we did hit the woodwork twice in the first, even if R'dale shaded that part of the match. R'dale could have had a couple, but then we could have had a couple more too. Decent effort all round. Shouldn't be too much negativity over this performance. COYB!
6

runningout added 22:18 - Nov 5
Good win. Ropey to watch half of it. We need to create more from midfield
2

DifferentGravy added 22:19 - Nov 5
Just heading back from game. Poor first half & lucky to be level. The right side was so unbalanced. Edwards was very poor. However, different second half. Judge switched sides with Rowe & we had more balance. Rowe tormented their full back for 15 mins & we got the goal. Never really looked in trouble second half. Felt sorry for Norwood who had no service & got frustrated. But big mention for Norris who looked assured. Woolfy, Chambers & Garbutt were rock solid. Edwards ,Judge did better 2nd half. Skuse, Nolan & Jackson tremendous work ethic. Overall a deserved win thanks to hard work & nerves of steel in second half. Man of match Woolfy
8

itfchorry added 22:21 - Nov 5
Super work from both the Team and the Fans -

All orchestrated by PL

Happy Days
6

dukey44 added 22:37 - Nov 5
Well long drive home to Scumberland but hey its another 3 points. Service was poor throughout the game.. The ref well enough said about him. Once judge and Rowe were swapped over made a huge difference. Defence looked well marshalled Chambers looks a lot better in this league... Just saying but our support was superb as ever.. Another 3 points Happy drive home..
4

bluesman added 23:01 - Nov 5
We're in League 1. Teams are in League one because they are not good enough for the championship or premiership. That's why we're here. Why are people surprised that the quality is poor?
3

TimmyH added 23:06 - Nov 5
Another 1-0 to add to the collection so pleased there but performances have been far from top notch though second half sounded like we played better. 3 points so perhaps shouldn't grumble too much! Well done lads.
3

MickMillsTash added 23:38 - Nov 5
I would have taken 0-0 when I saw the line up
Edwards right Back, Rowe and Judge - smelt of Accrington

First goal was always going to be key - fortunately we just about had the quality to take it.
Rochdale are like many teams in this division - limited but organised - I always leave feeingl that these teams are a little better organised than us.
Anyway 3 points - clean sheet, Downes is back next week and at least we know now that Edwards is not a Rightback and Rowe should play on the left
2

Minneapolis_ITFC added 01:10 - Nov 6
It may not have been the best or most convincing performance but a win is a win. Never take anything for granted regardless of who we play, the opposition were never going to roll over for us and we come away with a victory and consolidate position at the top.

Only 3,000 in attendance so says game reports which indicates there must have been some stellar firework displays in Rochdale this night to keep people away, or the prospect of a mid-week game in November at one of the outposts of English soccer just didn't have the attraction or glamor as some other events we could have been involved in.
2

ThaiBlue added 05:39 - Nov 6
A wins a win.not a great performance v a very tidy rochdale.worried that we give teams really good chances and luckily tonight they did not take them,why we never really created many chances and thought the front 2 were poor.chambers,garbutt,rowe all played well but im worried that we are not playing well and giving teams lots of chances.well done to all you fantastic supporters who went tonight,amazing.
2

jas0999 added 06:56 - Nov 6
Poor performance, but yet another win. Good that Rowe scored after looking average at best for most of the game. Can't complain at seven away wins. These scrappy, poor football contests on the road seem to be the norm. Winning to get out of this league is to an extent all that matters - especially away. Let's hope the home form picks up.
3

Saxonblue74 added 07:35 - Nov 6
Mickmillstash - sounds like it could easily have been AS or worse in the first half! Results are brilliant and top of the league likewise but Oxford and Wycombe to come? Have to up our performance levels. Not playing with the freedom and confidence you'd expect from a team clear at the top with only 2 defeats in the league.
0

Bluearmy_81 added 07:57 - Nov 6
Thank you PL for what you've brought back to the club I love. ME, back Lambert properly next season, the step up is huge and investment will be as crucial as with a step up from Championship to the Prem. If ME doesn't I wouldn't be surprised and couldn't blame PL for walking. Town fans are awesome at putting in 500 miles on a Tuesday night, I'm so massively proud of that. They need to be a LOT better at putting pressure on a chronically underfunding owner though. Never forget we are playing in league one for the first time in 60+ years thanks to Evans.
1

Nobbysnuts added 08:50 - Nov 6
Great win boys. Potential banana skin out of the way. Back to the summit. Now a few weeks off .lovely jubbly. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
0

chalky added 08:57 - Nov 6
Can't complain about the result and there were some good individual performances, so well done PL and the lads. I still worry that we are not truly dominating games as a whole and it would be reassuring to see us really put teams to the sword. There is still a somewhat brittle look to the team at times. If we can up our game and put in good performances against Oxford and Wycombe, then I might really start to believe !
1

ESSEX75 added 10:15 - Nov 6
A 1-0 victory away from home and only half a page of comments how the Mighty TWTD has fallen.
2

TimmyH added 12:00 - Nov 6
yes @ESSEX75 where have all the posters gone?...only 24 posts (not including this one) maybe because there is nothing to moan about as results are going well. I remember in the MM days each match would get 90 or so posts at least.
1


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