For the first time since March 2020, Dale fans were allowed back at Spotland for a league game but it’s fair to say it will be one to forget for those that went as Dale could only draw 0-0 draw against Scunthorpe United.
It’s easy to forget that among all the endless off-field shite we’re going through that there’s actually some football to be played! After a stoppage defeat away at Harrogate Town last weekend, Dale took on Scunthorpe United and could only take a point in a dour 0-0 draw.
Robbie Stockdale told us after the game that we were missing Aidy White, Conor Grant and Jim McNulty due to positive covid tests. This saw a reshuffle in the team and the system with Dale going to a back three with Graham, Taylor and O’Connell at centre back with O’Keeffe and Done as wingbacks. Abraham Odoh was on the bench following his knock at Harrogate meaning Danny Cashman started while Stephen Dooley was dropped to the bench, allowing George Broadbent to start.
It’s fair to say Dale had the better of the first half overall and started the game well I thought. The new "David Clough” scoreboard was in use for the first time and how fantastic it looked too. We held a minutes applause in the third minute to honour Cloughie, who even now, 14 months after sadly passing away, is helping the club in so many wonderful ways.
Despite starting well, Dale could only really create half chances early on. Danny Cashman ballooned a volley over the bar from a Matty Done free kick while Jake Beesley hit a tame effort straight at the keeper.
Some great football from Dale resulted in the best chance of the half to that point when a cross came in from the Matty Done and Jake Beesley’s diving header was narrowly wide. What a goal that would have been.
Jay Lynch held a shot from Lewis Thompson before Dale had the best chance of the game through on-loan Danny Cashman as half time approached. He connected with a cross from the right with all the goal to aim at, but he hit it straight at the Scunny keeper. A glorious chance for Dale to open the scoring and Cashman to get his first senior goal.
Goalless at the break but Dale really should have gone in leading.
It’s fair to say the second half was a bit poor, not just from us but both sides. We seemed a lot more static on the attack and were limited to half chances.
Matt Done hit one well over the bar while the visitors also hit an effort off target.
Abraham Odoh was Dale’s first change on 65 minutes replacing Danny Cashman and Odoh was involved straight away causing problems down the left and even curled a shot over the bar.
With 8 minutes left, Sam Graham was forced off with injury and was replaced by Stephen Dooley which saw Dale revert back to 4-3-3.
Dale did have Josh Andrews ready and waiting to come on in stoppage time but the whistle blew before he could come on and Dale had to make do with a point and a clean sheet. There is definitely a lot more to come from this team.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Jay Lynch — 6 (Clean sheet and dealt with what came his way comfortably)
Corey O’Keeffe — 7 (Got forward very well and put a few decent challenges as well)
Sam Graham — 6 (Did OK while he was on apart from one error that fortunately went unpunished)
Eoghan O’Connell — 7 (Good return to the side for the captain)
Max Taylor — 6 (Still getting to grips with League Two but another steady performance)
Matty Done — 7 (Thought Done did well overall, got forward well)
Aaron Morley — 6 (Deliveries weren’t as impressive as we expect from him but played alright I thought)
George Broadbent — 6 (Steady performance from the on-loan midfielder)
ALEX NEWBY — 7 (My Man of the Match and the sponsors Man of the Match. Looks so much better watching him live, really looks the part)
Danny Cashman — 6 (Worked really hard and tried to link up play between the midfield and attack, showed glimpses of quality)
Jake Beesley — 6 (Worked hard as always and won plenty of headers but got nothing out of the Scunthorpe no 6 all afternoon)
Subs:
Abraham Odoh — 7 (Looked to attack every time he got the ball)
Stephen Dooley — 6 (Did ok in the brief time he was on)