Brewers bite back at Dale
ABRIGHT start at the Pirelli Stadium came to nothing for Rochdale as Callum Camps’ early goal was quickly overturned by the home side.
Brian Barry-Murphy’s team showed three changes to the side which had beaten Boston United in the FA Cup on Monday. Ian Henderson, forced out through injury, was replaced by Rekeil Pyke, while MJ Williams and Ollie Rathbone returned from injury, Aaron Wilbraham dropping down to the bench and Aaron Morley missing from the squad.
The game started promisingly for Dale with a goal after two minutes. It started with a long clearance from keeper Robert Sanchez and when Pyke beat Richard Nartey to the header to flick on, skipper Camps was allowed to run on and lash the ball beyond Kieran O’Hara.
But Albion had a slice of luck go their way on eleven minutes when they got back on level terms. Jake Buxton spread the play out to Colin Daniel on the left and his burst forwards created room for a low cross that was scuffed by Reece Boyce but fell invitingly for Ryan Edwards to catch with a volley into the bottom corner off the outside of his boot.
Daniel was revelling in the space out wide on the left and when he raised forwards again on 17 minutes Eoghan O’Connell clumsily sent him tumbling in the box giving Lucas Akins the chance to complete a quick turnaround smashing the penalty high into the roof of Sanchez’s net.
Albion were dominating the game and Scott Fraser blasted over the bar before Oliver Sarkic was found in acres of space by a glorious crossfield pass by Boyce but was not quite able to finish the move and Fraser then danced through a couple of challenges just inside the box before seeing a deflected effort nestle into the side netting.
Rochdale, to their credit were trying to play football from the back but it almost cost theim dear on 39 minutes when good pressing from the Albion frontline forced a hurried clearance from Sanchez and Boyce was able to feed Sarkic, his shot on the turn not quite able to beat the Dale keeper.
The Brewers had been completely dominant in the first period but they almost ended up going in level at the break when Rochdale moved the ball around nicely before a low ball through the Burton penalty area was allowed to bypass everyone with nobody in a blue shirt gambling on it. It would have been harsh on Albion to go in level and it was only a one goal lead to take into half time.
Rochdale started brightly after the break and but for better finishing could have been level but it was Boyce with the best opening forcing a good stop from Sanchez with a rising drive from the edge of the box on 48 minutes.
Dale were finding space out on their left and a superb cross in from Rhys Norrington-Davies looked a certain goal until Pyke went up and completely mistimed his header sending it well wide of the target.
The visitors then turned to substitute Wilbraham, the veteran striker expected to use his physical presence to try and unsettle the Brewers back line as Dale went in search of an equaliser.
The warning signs were there for Albion and from a rare Rochdale corner Matty Done clipped the top of the crossbar with an effort from just outside the box.
Jimmy Keohane was even closer on 64 minutes with a low drive that struck the base of the post before Jake Buxton was able to eventually clear the danger.
Albion made their first change on 69 minutes, Sbarra replacing Sarkic but it was proving difficult to stem the flow of Rochdale attacks, Keohane again going close with a low drive that was only just wide of the upright.
Akins got Albion moving forwards again and was close to a third for the Brewers on 81 minutes, Sbarra busying himself to win possession in midfield to find the striker who cut inside before firing just over the top.
Liam Boyce sealed Burton’s win with a low finish into the bottom corner eight minutes from time.
Dale almost pulled a goal back through Aaron Wilbraham, his sliced volley going wide.
Burton boss Clough said: “To get back into the game quickly was vital and we were that much on top at that time in the first half I don’t think 2-1 did us justice at half-time.
“A team like Rochdale are going to come back into it and the fact that it was only 2-1 at half-time gave them that encour