Dale’s survival
games and left them six points off the safety positions with a game in hand on Oldham, who occupied 20th spot going into this weekend’s round of fixtures.
It was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance on the night, with Dale seeing plenty of the ball but never really threatening Alex Cairns in the Fleetwood goal.
Billy Knott was arguably the eye-catching arrival of January’s transfer activity and was handed his eagerly-anticipated home debut, starting in the midfield ahead of Bradden Inman, who dropped to the bench. Joe Rafferty was also among the subs with Scott Wiseman continuing in the right wing-back role in an otherwise unchanged starting XI.
Former Dale defender Ashley Eastham started against his old club while striker Bobby Grant, another to sport Rochdale colours in the past, was on the Fleetwood bench.
The visitors’ early probings were restricted to the right-hand side while Dale looked to stretch the game – but neither side created much in the opening 20 minutes, Wiseman’s blocked effort on the turn and Stephen Humphrys’ 25-yard shot over the crossbar notwithstanding.
Cairns in the Fleetwood goal was worked by a deflected Humphry’s shot which caused minimal problem for the goalkeeper but signalled the start of a decent – albeit brief - spell for the home side, during which Wiseman rolled back the years with a penetrating run past several defenders, his pull back from the byline eluding red and blue shirts alike.
Callum Camps’ freekick from the right was flicked on and dropped agonisingly out of Ryan Delaney’s reach, the big defender getting a toe to the ball but unable to control his effort which flew high into the Pearl Street stand.
Fleetwood’s first effort of the game came in stoppage time at the end of the half, a speculative attempt by Madden from distance to catch Josh Lillis unawares, but his shot was wayward, bringing to an end an opening 45 minutes short on genuine chances at either end.
After an innocuous opening ten minutes to the second half play was stopped for a while as Andy Cannon received treatment on the pitch after a nasty, but accidental, clash of heads while challenging for an aerial ball on the halfway line. Cannon was eventually stretchered off, replaced by Mark Kitching.
On the resumption of play, Dale had penalty claims waved away when Knott appeared to be bundled over in the area and that was quickly followed by a close call at the other end, Eastham heading on target, his effort turned away by Lillis.
But the respite did not last long for Dale and they conceded on 63 minutes. Kyle Dempsey was the architect, driving 30 yards into Dale territory before seeing his shot parried by Lillis, Madden showing his poacher’s instincts as he seized on the loose ball to head opener.
Keith Hill went for broke with a double substitution on 71 minutes, home the