Frustration in
ROCHDALE endured an evening of frustration as they played out a goalless draw with Southend United in League One.
Dale monopolised possession and chances in the first-half only to let that intensity slip in the second and meander to a Spotland stalemate.
Keith Hill implored fans to stick by their side and the home support delivered a supportive atmosphere - vital with nine of their 13 remaining games being at the Crown Oil Arena.
A third successive clean sheet, on Josh Lillis’ 250th appearance for the club, was a cause for celebration and seven points from nine is a pleasing return.
Ahead of kick-off, fixture congestion seemed to catch up with Joe Rafferty who pulled out of the warm-up with injury to be replaced at a late stage by Scott Wiseman. Rather than limiting play down the right, the first chance came as Wiseman bounded down the wing and found Andy Cannon whose glancing header dropped wide.
Southend, rejuvenated under Chris Powell having surged from peril into mid-table, began to nick possession high up the pitch through Dru Yearwood and Jason Demetriou.
But Dale looked by far the likelier to open the scoring, Ian Henderson scrapping to win possession and firing a shot on target from the top of the box to test Mark Oxley.
The Blues grew impatient, Michael Kightly booked for an off-the-ball reaction, but found their first threat as MarcAntoine Fortune hit the side netting on a counterattack.
A number of near misses followed before half-time as the home side turned the screw with sustained pressure.
Humphrys was hustled out of the box by Anton Ferdinand when wellplaced, before Cannon seized upon Kightly’s poor clearance and had a firm shot parried to safety.
Oxley kept goal superbly, strong in the air and equal to any shot thrown at him, needing more than Henderson’s flicked header from an Inman cross to extend him on 44 minutes.
The second-half was largely disappointing fare, although moments in Henderson looked to have latched onto a superb Humphrys through ball only to be denied at his feet by Oxley.
The Essex side then had a huge penalty shout, claiming Fortune had been felled by the outstretched leg of Ryan Delaney, proving to no avail despite clear evidence of contact.
With the game drifting, both managers chose to act as Powell introduced winger Stephen McLaughlin and Hill turned to FA Cup late hero Steve Davies.
Chances duly followed for both, McLaughlin engineering a shooting opportunity from range on the right and Davies volleying a half-volley on target from distance.
A further roll of the dice followed, the mercurial Alex Dobre introduced with 15 to play but aside from an easily-gathered low shot the Romanian had no scope to influence.
It was the visitors who ended in the ascendancy, Ben Coker having a shot blocked and Anthony Wordsworth drawing a save from Lillis as the game entered its late stage.
Plenty of balls came into the box, Michael Turner heading wide with the final chance of the game, but Rochdale weren’t unduly troubled in a game destined to end goalless.