Defensive heroics see Dale to victory
TEN-MAN Rochdale’s rearguard action helped them earn a vital victory at playoff-chasing Peterborough United.
Dale’s great escape gathered pace at Posh, securing a fourth away win in five games at the expense of the League One promotion hopefuls.
Ian Henderson played a defining role in the game, his well-taken first half strike proving the difference between the two teams.
But Henderson’s second-half sending off for a professional foul on Gwion Edwards pressed his side’s backs firmly against the wall for over half an hour.
The early stages weren’t exactly plain sailing, league top scorer Jack Marriott having a penalty shout for handball turned down after his scorpion kick seemed to strike Jim McNulty.
George Cooper, lively on the right in the absence of key Posh playmaker Marcus Maddison, flashed a ball across the face of goal to some danger but no avail.
Dale surged in front on 16 minutes, Henderson turning sharply at the byline and lifting the ball into the roof of the net after Calvin Andrew’s effort had been parried.
The Rochdale captain came close to a second, his acrobatic attempt dropping just wide of the post after Andrew beat keeper Conor O’Malley to a high ball.
Reinstated after a spell out of the side, Mark Kitching busied himself in the first period but was off target with a long-range drive.
The midfielder found his way into the referee’s book, protesting the decision not to award a penalty for Leo Da Silva Lopes’ clumsy challenge on him on the far side.
Josh Lillis was largely untroubled in the first half, watching Cooper cut inside and a curl and effort over, with Junior Morais also dragging a shot wide.
The turning point in the game came on 53 minutes, Henderson lunging in to bring Edwards down as he bounded into Dale territory.
On subsequent viewings, it appears Henderson only hooks Edwards’ leg back but in real time him diving in from behind made the referee’s mind up.
There was no debate on how crucial the decision proved to the momentum of the contest as Peterborough immediately posed a threat.
From the resulting freekick, Jack Baldwin forced a fine save from Lillis high to his right and the home skipper also planted a header on target from a corner.
Andrew Hughes effort was saved but Edwards couldn’t turn home the rebound.
In an eventful afternoon for the Welsh winger, Edwards had a goal chalked off in the 74th minute when he tapped in the rebound from Danny Lloyd’s drive only to be ruled offside.
Despite scares, Rochdale were still able to pose a threat on the break and Joe Thompson pleaded for a penalty after being tripped in the area.
He forced a corner from the move, which led to Andrew rising highest and planting a header onto the crossbar that looped over to safety.
Andrew’s work in defending his own box at set pieces is largely unheralded but his guarding touch to deny Jack Marriott was goal and matchsaving.
Amid a rousing team effort, Lillis made the weightiest contribution and his stunning injurytime save from a Lloyd header was one of his best for the club.