Dale building on solid foundations

ROCHDALE proved solid yet again as they kept their fourth successive clean sheet in the goalless draw at Wimbledon on Saturday.

Four days after their trip to Blackpool yielded the same result, Dale stretched their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions in a contest short on goalmouth incident.

Calvin Andrew came into the side with Jordan Williams dropping to the bench, the only change to the starting XI which kicked off at Bloomfield Road earlier in the week.

The Dons have been struggling for goals and their reluctance to overcommit numbers going forward was no great surprise. As a result the first half passed with few threats to either goalkeeper.

Josh Lillis comfortably dealt with a free-kick from Andy Barcham, one of few pieces of work he had to perform during the opening 45 minutes.

For Dale, Joe Bunney’s free-kick struck the Wimbledon wall while Andrew ‘s header was saved by George Long and Ollie Rathbone fired wide from an acute angle.

Dale’s best chance of the half – and arguably the game – came from a corner by Bunney. Donervon Daniels got up highest at the back post to meet the set-piece but his downward header was was palmed away by Long.

Cody McDonald headed a Deji Oshilaja’s centre over the bar before the half was out, but in honesty there had been little to get supporters on the edge of their seats.

And after the interval it was a similar story. Lyle Taylor’s cross from the right at the start of the second half was touched wide by Barcham, before Barry Fuller saw a left footed shot comfortably held by Lillis.

Daniels saw a header from a corner kick deflected over, and from the resulting set-piece Andrew sent a header narrowly wide of the far post.

A nicely worked move saw Andrew knock down an MJ Williams cross into the path of Davies, whose turn and shot was well blocked ten yards out.

Substitute Harry Forrester’s corner was headed behind by Oshilaja, but it was a day where defences at either end of the field were clear winners.

“Defensively we were brilliant. We defended crosses into the box and direct balls superbly. But we have to show more composure on regains. We’re a passing side and I don’t think we’ve utilised our skills going forward.”

Long, Fuller, Francomb, Nightingale, Oshilaja, Parrett (Forrester), Soares, Trotter, McDonald (Charles), Taylor, Barcham (Abdou).

Lillis, Daniels, McNulty, McGahey, Bunney, MJ Williams, Camps, Rathbone (Davies, 62), Henderson, Andrew (Ntlhe, 82), Inman (Done, 54). Subs not used: Rafferty, Slew, Moore, Williams