STOCK WANTS A DALE RESPONSE
ROBBIE Stockdale labelled Tuesday’s home game against Carlisle as “huge” after defeat at Crawley left his side without a win in their last seven games.
Fifth-bottom Dale are nine points clear of the relegation trap door with eight games remaining and Stockdale says they are in a position where they have to try and find the “right formula”.
A first-half goal by Ashley Nadesan was enough to give Crawley back to back home wins for the first time in a year, but Stockdale felt it was all about the hosts cashing in on a defensive mistake.
The Dale boss said: “There was not a lot in the game, but one big mistake led to them capitalising.
“We are fully aware of the position we find ourselves in and the only way now is to roll up our sleeves and fight.”
As well as losing their last four awar games, Dale have won only two of their last 16 matches since the turn of the
year, and Stockdale added: “Tuesday’s game is huge. It’s a game we need three points from. We’ve let our fans down several times and there has been a lack of quality, but losing key players in January didn’t help. I was disappointed with our quality on the ball and the way we gifted them a goal.”
Former Fleetwood and Carlisle striker Nadesan gave Crawley an early boost by steering the ball home from close range after keeper Jay Lynch had superbly parried his initial attempt after James Tilley’s shot.
Tilley shot forced keeper Lynch to make a low save before
Crawley’s veteran stopper Glenn Morris kept out a shot from Matt Done and then palmed away Alex Newby’s goal-bound effort.
Rochdale threatened before the break when a fierce drive by Luke Charman was tipped over by Morris. Defender Corey O’Keeffe blazed a good chance wide for Dale in front of their travelling fans after Newby got the better of substitute Archie Davies.
Struggling Dale enjoyed the greater possession in the second half and substitute Danny Cashman had a shot parried by Morris late on as
Stockdale’s men went down to a fourth successive away defeat.
Crawley are heading for their third successive mid-table finish under John Yems, but with the head coach absent due to Covid his assistant Lewis Young stepped up to run the side.
Young, promoted in the last month following Lee Bradbury’s move to Eastleigh, said: “It was not one of our better performances but we’ve come away with three points and now we’ve got to work on making this place more of a fortress again.
“I’m not a nervy person. We’ve got a good, honest group and they’ve been brilliant.
“It was a steady performance and we found a different way of winning.”
CRAWLEY TOWN: Morris 7, Francillette 7, Tunnicliffe 7, Francomb 7, Tilley 8, Payne 7, Hessenthaler 7, Ferry 7 (Davies 60, 6), Appiah 7, Nadesan 7 (Hutchinson
61, 6), Nichols 7. Subs not used: Matthews, Seymour, Marshall, Kastrati.
ROCHDALE: Lynch 6, Downing 6, O’Connell 7, Dorsett 7, O’Keeffe 6, Broadbent 6 (Kelly 60, 6), Dooley 7, Clark 7, Newby 6 (Cashman 65, 6), Charman 7, Done 6 (Andrews 76, 6). Subs not used: McNulty, Grant, Keohane, Wade.