Rochdale took another step towards Coca-Cola League One with a 2-0 home win over Crewe Alexandra this afternoon. After Crewe had lost their leading goalscorer Calvin Zola through injury within the opening few minutes, the prolific Chris O'Grady gave the Dale an 8th minute lead with a fantastic finish.
Crewe should have gone in level at the break after Craig Dawson had felled Zola's early replacement Byron Moore, but the referee waved away any Crewe protests. It was a clear penalty that would have seen Crewe deservedly level going into the interval after a promising team performance.
The task of upsetting the league leaders was made even more difficult though when the unfortunate Matt Tootle turned home an O'Grady cross within the first 60 seconds of the restart.
Crewe huffed and puffed but couldn't trouble the Rochdale goalkeeper Frank Fielding nearly enough to match our Boxing Day result with our North West rivals.
Dario Gradi made two changes for the trip to Spotland to face Keith Hill's table toppers. Following his injury-time equaliser against Torquay United on Tuesday evening, Shaun Miller earned himself a recall to the starting line-up. Clayton Donaldson dropped down to the substitutes bench for the relatively short journey to Rochdale.
Luke Murphy, who recently impressed when coming on as a substitute against Bournemouth was also recalled to the team ahead of Joel Grant, who had to settle for a place on the substitutes bench.
James Bailey did travel with the squad but was the spare man with Byron Moore, Carl Martin, Patrick Ada, Danny Shelley and reserve goalkeeper Adam Legzdins named on the bench.
The match kicked off in bright sunshine at Rochdale but just a couple of minutes in, Crewe Alexandra were dealt a blow when top scorer Calvin Zola pulled up with a hamstring strain. Zola had stretched to cut out a long ball up the pitch from the Rochdale left-back Tom Kennedy and in doing so aggravated the muscle. Byron Moore replaced him.
The advanced Kennedy was also involved in the first real attack of the afternoon. His excellent cross from the left flank reached the on-loan Temitope Obadeyi, but he couldn't keep his header down to trouble Steve Phillips.
That was just the starter because a vibrant Rochdale did take the lead on just 8 minutes. Chris Dagnall got the wrong side of Harry Worley and must have thought he had opened the scoring after slipping it past Phillips, only for the covering Ashley Westwood to slide it away from the line. Just when it appeared Crewe had averted the danger, the ball found its way to Chris O'Grady and he lashed his shot into the roof of the net for his 16th league goal of the season.
Crewe were finding it difficult to get hold of possession as Rochdale sensed another early goal at an atmospheric Spotland. Obadeyi wastefully shot over after coming off his wing.
On 14 minutes, Steve Schumacher had the Railwaymen's first effort on target via a central free-kick. Schumacher struck his shot well enough from 30 yards out but the Rochdale goalkeeper Frank Fielding was equal to it and pushed it out from underneath his crossbar. It was a decent effort from the Alex captain.
Without the aerial presence of Zola up there, Crewe did not possess that get-out-clause of a pass and continued to play shorter into the feet of Miller and the lively Miller. Every time one of the Crewe centre-halves hit the ball long looking for a non-existent target man, Dario and his assistant Steve Davis were on to them. Shouts of 'get the ball on the ground' could be heard from the Alex dugout.
A fine tackle from Simon Walton in the centre of the pitch set Murphy clear but after having one touch too many, his shot was blocked by Craig Dawson on the edge of the penalty area.
Although, Crewe had seemingly weathered an early storm from the home side, they were still an immense danger in and around our penalty area. Some good footwork from Will Atkinson created another half chance for O'Grady but on this occasion John Brayford was able to clear the danger from within side his own 6-yard box.
On 25 minutes, Brayford, in his role as an attacking full-back, created an opening for Murphy but from a good position he couldn't get his shot on target.
Crewe then should have had a penalty when Schumacher sent Moore through on goal. Dawson had to make a last ditch tackle on the Crewe striker and certainly did not get a touch on the ball. The whole stadium thought the referee was going to point to the spot. Instead he told Moore to get to his feet. No-one inside Spotland could quite believe it, especially the travelling Alex supporters to the left of the ground.
In an entertaining first half, Dagnall then tired his luck from 20 yards after the Crewe defence had gifted possession to him under no severe pressure. Phillips dived to make the save.
At the other end, after a scrappy piece of play, Westwood couldn't quite get over his half volley and it whistled over Fielding's bar.
Rochdale were also forced into a change before the break with Nathan Stanton unable to continue. Rory McArdle replaced him in the Rochdale back four.
A late surge from Gary Jones needed a timely interception from Worley to prevent his cross reaching Dagnall. Crewe had to survive some late pressure, especially from corners, with Phillips making a superb one handed safe to deny O'Grady at the far post. It was the visitors who were after the half time whistle.
In stoppage time though, Schumacher did shoot rather tamely at Fielding after some really promising play from the Alex involving Brayford and Miller. Dagnall had the final say though with his powerful drive from 25 yards forcing Phillips into another splendid save.
Crewe's afternoon became doubly difficult within 60 seconds of the restart. Dagnall released his strike partner O'Grady into the Crewe box and after his low cross, had evaded Brayford and Worley it was turned home at the far post by Matt Tootle. The Alex left back had just stuck out his foot to cut the cross out - but hadn't been under a lot of pressure. It was the worst possible start to the second half.
Crewe had to regroup, especially Tootle who was greeted with the chant 'shoot' every time he touched the ball in the second 45 minutes. To be fair, the youngster stuck to his task well up against the lively Bolton boy Obadeyi. He was soon replaced for Kallum Higginbottom.
Walton tired to get Crewe going again with a forceful run into the Rochdale box but surrounded by three, he couldn't quite get his cross past Dawson. Then a wonderful pass from Murphy found Moore inside the Rochdale penalty area, but he eventually had his shot blocked by McArdle.
O'Grady was excellent throughout, working the channels and always prepared to take on whoever was infront of him. One of his deliveries to the far post, saw Will Atkinson climb above Brayford but Phillips was again behind it.
The Alex keeper was rather lucky to get a free-kick awarded in his favour after he had rushed from his goal to meet an onrushing Dagnall. Both players appeared to miss the ball but the referee gave the goalkeeper a big benefit of the doubt.
Just over the hour mark, Walton was replaced for Danny Shelley, with Schumacher moving into the centre.
Rochdale's substitute Kallum Higginbottom then drew another save from Phillips after his powerful shot took a slight deflection off of the back of Worley. The Alex keeper had to quickly readjust his feet to push his effort over the bar for a corner.
Phillips, who was keeping the score down, then made a point blank save to deny defender Dawson his 9th goal of the season.
Crewe needed a goal to create a nervy ending for the home side and Murphy nearly provided it with a low drive from 25 yards out. Westwood had done excellently in the build-up to steal possession and Murphy's shot forced Fielding into his first real save of the second half.
On 76 minutes, Murphy, who had looked one of the most likely Crewe players to score, made way for Joel Grant.
The Alex winger nearly conjured up something with his first contribution but after getting in behind Scott Wiseman, his low cross was hooked away for a corner by Dawson.
Higginbottom was also lively for the home side and after again carrying the ball forward, his pass into Dagnall gave him another sight at goal but after O'Donnell had got his boot to the shot, it rebounded into the gloves of Phillips. Higginbottom had a chance in stoppage time to make it 3-0 but had his shot blocked right infront of the goal.
In the closing stages, Rochdale pressed looking for more goals but in truth for his performance, Steve Phillips didn't really deserve to concede any more.
