Rochdale had to make do with a 0-0 draw away at Rushden & Diamonds. Dale dominated proceedings and could have got more from the game. Match report and player ratings online now.

Rochdale took on Rushden & Diamonds at Nene Park and came away with a point that could easily have three points but for our old friend Billy Turley in the Diamonds net.

There was a debut given to Paul Weller as he made his first appearance for Dale in the centre of midfield.  Scott Warner replaced Neil Brisco in the midfield as Dale reverted back to a 4-5-1 for the game.  The Dale team was, Edwards in goal, a back four of Evans, Gallimore, Griffiths and Clarke.  We had a five man midfield with Bertos and Cooksey on the wings, Warner, Weller and Jones in the middle with Holty playing up front as a lone striker.  Gilks, Gibbins, Brisco, Probets and Tait took up places on the substitutes bench.

Much like the Notts County game, Rochdale dominated the game and deserved much more than they got from it.  With just over 5 minutes gone Grant Holt nearly opened the scoring with an effort that Turley didn't take cleanly and the ball nearly got away from him but he managed to get to it.

Gary Jones went very close for Dale with 15 minutes gone when a cracking move ended with Gary Jones volleying an effort goalwards but he sliced it a little and the ball went centimetres wide.  The move came about from Grant Holt who started the move by playing the ball out to the right where Bertos and Evans linked up well resulting in a cross coming in which was brought down by Holt and left for Jones to hit.

With half an hour gone, Irthlingborough managed their only shot on goal when David Bell smashed an effort wide of Taff's post.  On the rare occasion that the home side did break, it was Bell who looked dangerous and was the only player who did to be honest.

Ernie Cooksey had a chance to get his name on the scoresheet when he got on the end of a Gary Jones cross but his header was off target.

Grant Holt did very well to hold up the ball before smashing the ball at goal but a defender managed to get in the way of it and block the shot.

The half ended and Dale were level at 0-0 but there was only one team in the game and it wasn't the home side.

Dale continued to dominate the game and Billy Turley had to be alert on a few occasions to keep Diamonds in the game.

Rochdale should have been 1-0 up when Ernie Cooksey broke down the left wing unchallenged and cut inside to cross to an unmarked Grant Holt but the low cross was a poor one and the keeper managed to come out and claim it.  A decent cross would have seen Dale 1-0 up without a doubt.

Grant Holt began to get more and more frustrated as the game went on and that only increased when he had a penalty claim turned down when contact was definitely made by the defender leading to Holt going down, the referee shook his head and Holt was fuming.

Parkin decided to make a change by replacing Scott Warner with Neil Brisco for the last 20 minutes.

Dale continued to create chances and dominate the game and Ernie Cooksey went close when he had a good header turned over by Turley.  Griffiths had a header saved from the resulting corner as well.

Grant Holt was getting frustrated and he was caught offside when he didn't think he was and he jumped up and stamped the ground in anger and picked up a yellow card for his troubles.  He was brought off for Paul Tait with a few minutes left.

Dale had dominated the game but only took a point which I suppose is a decent point away from home but I can't help feeling disappointing we aren't higher in the league following today's game.

Player Ratings:

Neil Edwards 5 Not much to do but he seemed stuck on his line and nearly let one slip

Wayne Evans 6 Defended ok and got some decent crosses in

Tony Gallimore 6 His crossing was woeful at times but some of it was excellent

Jamie Clarke 7 Defended well I thought, they rarely got through with him and Griffiths there

GARETH GRIFFITHS 7 Did very well again.  Looked very solid and I for one have been impressed with him recently

Leo Bertos 6 Got into the game much more today but still not at his best

Ernie Cooksey 6 Worked hard down the left but he didn't have much luck in front of goal

Scott Warner 6 Got stuck in and worked hard in midfield while he was on. 

Paul Weller 7 Good debut I thought though I'm not sure a few around me agreed. 

Gary Jones 7 Did very well in midfield.  Linked the play up very well in the middle and pushed on to help Holty when he could

Grant Holt 7 Caused a lot of problems up front and could have had a couple of goals but it wasn't to be

Subs:  

Neil Brisco 6 Didn't do a lot in the 20 minutes he was on but didn't make any mistakes today!

Paul Tait 6 Not bad, good movement in the few minutes he was on

Photo: Action Images

Rochdale Polls