Dale’s spirited Black Cats show praised by BBM

MANAGER Brian Barry-Murphy praised ‘exceptional’ Dale after their 2-2 draw with Sunderland at the Crown Oil Arena.

Dale went into the Tuesday night match on the back of two consecutive away victories in League One, but they were always going to be in for a tough evening against a team considered amongst the strongest in the division.

The visitors were ahead after 15 minutes through Charlie Wyke, but Dale responded in tremendous fashion, levelling the scores just ten minutes later.

Alex Newby - on the back of his first league goal for Dale at the weekend - crossed in from the right, and the in-form Matty Lund met his cross with a powerful header, leaving Black Cats goalkeeper Lee Burge no chance as the ball flew into the back of the net.

However, Phil Parkinson’s side took the lead for the second time with 40 minutes on the clock, as Lynden Gooch’s deflected shot fell kindly for Bailey Wright, with the defender heading into the bottom corner.

But just before halftime Dale showed their fighting spirit. Ollie Rathbone’s clever backwards pass found Lund, who curled into the far corner with a first-time strike that levelled the scores for a second time.

Sunderland had the lion’s share of possession in the second half, but BBM’s men held on for a valuable point.

Speaking to the club’s official website, BBM described Dale as a ‘dominant force’.

“I thought it was a brilliant game – I thought it tally for the whole of last season.

McLaughlin said: “Lundy’s on flames at the minute! He’s getting in all the right areas and once you get the ball to him you know he is going to put it away.

“We’ve all got great confidence in the attacking players here, we’re creating a lot of chances so it’s just down to us at the back to try and keep as many goals out as we can and I thought we all did well as a team.”

After playing the full 90 minutes following recent injury, the Dale defender said he was happy to see BBM put his faith in him.

He added: “I was out for two weeks, it was just a little niggle, obviously it’s good to be back in with Brian Barry-Murphy to we were exceptional in the on the line to protect our 14th in the table having proud at the moment and put trust in me to put me first half,” said BBM. goal. I think the overall collected seven points we’ll continue that irrespective on in games and start me

“It felt like a rip-roaring result was the least we from their last three of how the results against Sunderland who affair which is hard to say deserved. games. go over the next few are a very good team, so when there are no supporters “With the shape of the He added: “We spoke weeks.” hopefully I repaid him in, because you first half, we were very disappointed on Saturday about our Dale defender Ryan and did well enough. can’t get a real flow of the to be going in commitment to attack McLaughlin echoed the “I’m happy and the game. at 2-2. and attack in numbers thoughts of BBM, and he team did brilliant as well,

“But I thought we were “We thought that we and every time we were believes they did enough so overall a good night. brilliant and I thought we could have and should looking at numbers in the in the match to take all “The first half is probably could have scored any have been in front, so in box tonight it was flooded three points. the best we’ve played amount of goals in the the second half they are with our players, so that Speaking to the club’s all season – that’s as big a first half. entitled to put pressure on gives our lads real belief in website, he said: “I confidence booster as you

“We were a dominant us and bring on big reinforcements what we’re doing. thought all the lads did can have, we just have to force, so to come back from the “It takes a lot of courage brilliantly, we’re on an take that into every game both times when they [the bench. to play that way against a unbeaten run so it’s nice now – there’s no excuses, Sunderland goals] were “We brought on our team who are supposedly to keep that going. we know we can do well significant blows, because own players to protect the much bigger than us in “We put it to Sunderland against teams, we know we didn’t see them coming, lads as much as possible the division, so to go toeto-toe a lot in the first half, I we can get results. was testament to the in terms of our physicality with them was testament thought we were by far the “Hopefully we can keep lads’ character. and because we put so to our lads. better team. Obviously pushing on, we know it’s

“I thought our attacking much into the game, we “It has been a great start second half they had going to be hard - the play was brilliant. We looked very tired towards to the season for us. I spells and were probably league is a very hard were very creative and the end, but I just see that speak about detaching better second half but league where anyone can courageous, and we committed as an amazing positive myself from the result and overall I think we did beat anyone so we know multiple numbers because our guys have put just focusing on the performances enough to get a point and it’s going to be difficult.” forward into the box and absolutely everything into and over a long even three points.” Dale now look to continue we got our just rewards for every day for the club and a period of time I feel McLaughlin also their brilliant league that. I thought we could it has given our supporters, every one of us, and I praised midfielder Matty form when they welcome have scored a lot of goals. hopefully, something include myself in that, are Lund, who made it four Bristol Rovers to the

“We put so much into to be very proud of.” improving. That’s very league goals for the season Crown Oil Arena today the first half that it was a BBM was also positive special and is the whole with his Sunderland (3.00pm kick-off ). tough second half for us, about Dale’s overall start reason we do the job. brace – and the 29-yearold Victory will see BBM’s but we again defended to their League One campaign, “We feel as though is now just one goal side leapfrog the Pirates in again and put everything with the club sat we’re doing everybody away from matching his the League One table.

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●●Brian Barry-Murphy was full of praise for Dale’s performance against Sunderland on Tuesday after two goals from Matty Lund, inset, secured a well-earned draw at the Crown Oil Arena