Top-flight talent put on a show for Dale

WALSALL 1

Edwards 36

WALSALL: L Roberts 5, Norman 5, Scarr 5, Guthrie 5, Leahy 5, Devlin 5 (Blackett-Taylor 67, 6), Edwards 7, Osbourne 6 (Dobson, 77, 6), Jarvis 6, Cook 5, Ferrier 5 (Oteh 73, 6). Subs not used: Dunn, Fitzwater, Gordon, Laird.

ROCHDALE 2

Ebanks-Landell 4, Hamilton 60

ROCHDALE: Lillis 6, McLaughlin 7 (Bunney, 87), Ebanks-Landell 8, McNulty 7, Delaney 6, Camps 7, Dooley 6 (M Williams 90), Hamilton 8, Andrew 7, Henderson 6, Holden 6 (Pyke 58, 6). Subs not used: Wilbraham, Inman, Matheson, Wade.

Att: 4,021 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Scott Oldham 7/10

ROCHDALE boss Keith Hill hailed the Premier League quality he has brought in during the January transfer window after his side climbed out of the League One drop zone with victory at Walsall.

Both goals came from top-flight loanees, Manchester United midfielder Ethan Hamilton netting the winner after Joe Edwards’ solo goal cancelled out Wolves defender Ethan EbanksLandell’s opener.

And despite selling the likes of Joe Rafferty, Andrew Cannon and Harrison McGahey last month, Hill believes his side is now better equipped to survive after they ended a six-game winless run.

He said: “It gives your players a lift when other players come in that are of the calibre of both Ethans. There are a few mutters under the breath of ‘wow, he’s a good player’.

“There was a lot of negativity towards us selling the players that we have sold, but I believe that we’ve improved our squad.”

Rochdale led after just four minutes as a corner dropped to Ebanks-Landell and the defender lashed into the top corner from around six yards.

Walsall levelled after 36 minutes with a superb goal from Edwards, who won a tackle on halfway and sprinted 40 yards, before finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Rochdale regained the lead on the hour mark as Hamilton surged into the area, before rolling a composed finish into the far corner from 15 yards.

Walsall ramped up the pressure late on, but Aramide Oteh’s effort was cleared off the line by Jimmy McNulty and Josh Lillis saved from Edwards.

Walsall slipped to 17th and face big home games against fellow strugglers Wimbledon and Bradford City this month.

Cameron Morgan’s injury-time header almost rescued a point, but Walsall boss Dean Keates admitted: “In possession we weren’t good enough.

“We didn’t make enough passes and ended up going a little bit too direct.

“When we did make passes in the last 10-15 minutes, we created some opportunities and the fine margins of football aren’t going our way.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, no one is going to do you any favours, you have to look after yourself.”