Moore grabs Tykes hat-trick to maintain unbeaten start
BARNSLEY extended their unbeaten start to the League One season with a crushing victory at former manager Keith Hill’s Rochdale.
Kieffer Moore claimed a hattrick on a memorable night at Spotland.
Daniel Stendel’s side were excellent value for their two-goal half-time advantage.
They almost struck after just three minutes when Moore thumped a header against the crossbar.
Midfielder Alex Mowatt then curled a shot against the outside of a post just before the halfhour mark. Rochdale’s brief response almost brought a shock goal when Matty Done headed Ian Henderson’s cross over the top.
The visitors’ dominance was rewarded after 35 minutes when Brad Potts coolly headed home Moore’s outswinging cross.
Six minutes later it was 2-0 when Moore headed home a similarly impressive cross from Dani Pinillos.
Shortly before the break Mamadou Thiam was denied by a frantic goal-line clearance from an overworked Rochdale defence.
Barnsley extended their lead three minutes into the second half. Moore struck again, turning half-time sub Joe Rafferty inside out before burying a sweet angled drive past a helpless Josh Lillis.
Mowatt curled a free-kick inches wide on the hour mark as the visitors remained firmly on top.
They made it four in the 68th minute when Moore evaded two weak Rochdale challenges before slotting in his hat-trick goal. HEAD COACH Michael Collins demanded a response from Bradford City’s players after their 2-0 defeat at Southend on Saturday and he got it as the Bantams ended their threematch losing run with this victory over Burton Albion at Valley Parade.
It took a smart piece of opportunism by Huddersfield Town loanee Jack Payne in the 32nd minute to settle this evenly fought contest.
Sean Scannell’s right-wing cross was diverted into Payne’s path and the midfielder darted beyond two visiting defenders before beating Stephen Bywater with a low, right-foot shot just inside the post.
Bradford had two chances to increase their lead in the 36th minute when Hope Akpan volleyed straight at Bywater from Ryan McGowan’s cross.
Captain Josh Wright then retrieved the ball on the right and crossed to the far post where Eoin Doyle headed wide.
Marvin Sordell missed a great chance to equalise two minutes after half-time when McGowan’s attempted clearance landed at his feet 10 yards out, but he fired over the bar and Burton went close to levelling the scores on other occasions.
However, their best chance fell to Lucas Akins in the last minute stoppage time.
The Bradford defence failed to clear defender John Brayford’s long throw and when the ball landed at Akins’s feet he fired wide from 10 yards with what turned out to be the last kick of the match.