Numbers game
KEITH Keane’s dismissal just 20 minutes into the new season – and two defensive lapses – saw Rochdale kick off the 2017/18 campaign with a 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Portsmouth.
Brett Pitman, one of the sharpest strikers around in League One, ultimately proved the difference between the sides at Fratton Park, where Pompey were also reduced to ten men – though Jamal Lowe’s sending off came much later in the day.
Dale boss Keith Hill saw plenty in the performance to please him and the travelling supporters with the visitors largely bossing the opening the exchanges when the numbers were even. And even after Keane’s dismissal, Dale rarely looked threatened by the home side.
It was only when Pitman beat Reece Brown and Andy Cannon on the left before curling a shot inside Josh Lillis’ post within a minute of the restart that Dale were out on the back foot. They chased the game thereafter without success, Pitman ending the contest when he headed a second in time added on.
There was no place in the starting line up for the returning Matty Done, perhaps not surprisingly as he’d only been with the squad for a couple of days. Summer arrivals Jordan Williams and Brad Inman were also among the substitutes, as well as Joe Rafferty, whose lack of game time in the last few weeks of pre-season counted against him.
Before a crowd of 18,000, Dale made a promising start with Olly Rathbone teeing up Jamie Allen, the midfielder’s effort rising over the crossbar.
The visitors were settling in nicely – but the dynamics shifted when Keane was left exposed, one on one with the pacy Conor Chaplin. Running across the Portsmouth man, his body check halted Chaplin’s progress towards the area and referee Lee Probert deemed Keane to have denied him a goalscoring opportunity, brandishing the red card with few complaints from the Dale contingent.
Still, Hill’s men adjusted well and saw out the remainder of the half in relative comfort. There was a glanced header from Pitman that flew wide while Lillis was tested by Danny Rose’s half volley, but the visitors never looked in danger of conceding.
However, the good work undertaken in getting to half time on level terms was undone within a minute of the restart. Pitman seized on a poor header from Brown and cut into the penalty area from the left, nutmegging Cannon before seeing his shot blocked by Jim McNulty. The striker regathered the loose ball and showed unerring patience, biding his time before finding the bottom corner of Lillis’ net.
It could have been worse for Dale very quickly had Pitman made the most of a fine cross from Lowe soon after his opener, but this time he fired high and wide.
Ian Henderson and Rathbone were foiled as they shot at the Pompey goal in quick succession, prompting a change from Hill who brought on Done and Rafferty with Calvin Andrew and Callum Camps making way.
Dale started to build a head of steam as Cannon headed wide and Rafferty was close with a long range effort, and with 15 minutes remaining, goalscorer Steven Davies entered the fray.
However, Dale’s momentum petered out and Kyle Bennett had a great chance to wrap up the points when played in by Lowe, but curled his effort well over the crossbar.
Lowe saw red in the 81st minute for a knee-high