Dale draw is boost to survival chances
ROCHDALE PLYMOUTH 1 1 ROCHDALE’S relegation rollercoaster took another twist as a draw with Plymouth Argyle helped them climb out of the drop zone.
Ryan Delaney’s headed equaliser, moments after Argyle opened the scoring, lifted Dale out of the bottom four on goal difference with two games to go.
A much-improved second-half performance saw Keith Hill’s side capitalise on Oldham’s 3-0 defeat against Southend and clamber to some semblance of safety.
In holding the play-off chasing Pilgrims, who struck through Joel Grant, Rochdale played out a ninth draw in 13 home games.
Dale’s defence was under pressure early on, Carey delivering an accurate cross that Antoni Sarcevic couldn’t bring under his spell.
Josh Lillis, whose glaring late handling error cost his side two points in their last outing against Bradford, then made a sharp low save from Carey’s free-kick.
The anxiety caused by Lillis’ blunder could be heard in the rumblings of a nervy Spotland support. Bradden Inman’s volley, that sailed clean over the bar, was best their side could muster in the first half-hour.
Argyle should have been ahead, Carey’s curler looking destined for the bottom left corner were it not for the intervention of the upright.
Lillis had plenty to do with ensuring interval parity, parrying Sarcevic’s shot to safety and stopping Ruben Lameiras’ powerful drive with his legs. Rochdale corners were a mere source for pacey Plymouth counter-punches until the 41st minute, Delaney testing the keeper following a goalmouth scramble.
Callum Camps, captaining in the continued absence of suspended skipper Ian Henderson, came close after half-time with a flick tipped wide by Remi Matthews. Having made a positive start to the second half the hosts fell behind on 50 minutes, Grant nodding home in space after Lameiras lifted a cutback into the box.
They quickly drew level, Inman’s drifted corner finding Delaney whose headed effort flicked the shoulder of a defender and looped into the top left corner.
First-year pro Matthew Gillam, introduced in a half-time double switch, screwed his shot over at the back post after Scott Wiseman picked him out with a cross.
Suddenly injected with pace and purpose, Dale continued to carve out chances as Gillam led a break and Inman had a drive denied by Matthews at his near post.
From this point neither offered enough to claim victory. side