Rochdale AFC 0-0 Port Vale FC
The wife and I went to Southport today. A walk along the beach. A bit of dinner. That was sort of thing. Unfortunately, Southport had other idea's. The sea had retired to somewhere near the coast of Ireland. I invested 50p in one of the telescopes on the pier in the vain hope of catching a glimpse of the briny deep - something more powerful was probably in order - sadly Jodrell Bank wasn't handy. Still, there was the prospect of a bit of dinner. Erm - no. Silcock's Chippy was shut. We tried McDonald's - it was also shut. In fact, everything was shut. We wandered about for a bit and then came home - in short, as a day trip, it was a bit of a write-off.
Still, there was the football to look forward to. The visit of Port Vale tonight promised another Dale goal-fest. After the convincing demolition of Cheltenham at the weekend Dale are in flying form. We might even get brackets tonight.
As I made my way slowly back down the traffic clogged M6 I got a text from Mr. Keane. It is the same text every Dale fan got by one means or another this afternoon: 'Buckley has been sold to Watford'.
Weather
Cold and damp. You were expecting beach weather?
Food
I have written to the nation's pie manufacturers concerning my share of the profits following the massive increase in pie sales in the last twelve months. I have explained in some detail my unstinting efforts to promote the pie in all it's forms. I imagine the cheques will roll in any day now.
Away Support
About two hundred of the hardier souls of Stoke had made the journey tonight - fairly vocal throughout in spite of the events on the field - god bless them for trying.
Total gate tonight was 3081. If you leave out the away fans - there were 2800 or so Dale fans in Spotland. Slow progress - but progress nonetheless.
News
A word from our sponsors. The nattily titled Home Energy and Associated Trades Ltd have become Dale's new club sponsor. Look out for 'Mr. Heat' around Spotland - no, not the aging porn star - the smirking, house-shaped cartoon character.
No heat related puns. Tom Heaton re-extends his loan at Spotland until the end of the week. The heat goes on and on and on - sorry.
Mind the gap. I mentioned it earlier - but today saw the final chapter of the Will Buckley to [insert club here] saga. Granted, few had suspected the recently destitute Watford as his destination. In his short time at Spotland he became the poster boy for the 'New Dale' and a firm favourite with the fans - who could forget his terrorising of Bradford last season? His departure is very sad - but the move has financed the purchase of O'Grady and secured the services of Taylor and Haworth. Not a bad exchange. Good luck Will Buckley - gone but never forgotten.
Action
Your team for today:
GK: Heaton
Def: Wiseman, Stanton, Dawson, Kennedy(T)
Mid: Haworth, Taylor, Kennedy(J), Thompson
For: Dagnall, O'Grady
Bench: Arthur, McArdle, Flynn, Jones, Rundle, Hagan, Higginbotham
Rochdale's recent history with Vale has been a mixed and pretty inconclusive bag. A curious defeat, a scruffy win and a mildly controversial draw. Having disposed of the wildly unpopular Dean Glover at the end of last season, Mickey Adams has been recruited to impress his own individual style on the Potteries side. Whilst far from prolific in front of goal, he has made the Valiant's very hard to beat - 12 draws and just 5 defeats from 24 games makes it clear that this season's Vale are no mugs. Mind you, considering that Mr. Adam's put the whole team on the transfer list earlier in the season after a dip in form - the incentive to perform well is pretty strong.
The first half started brightly for Dale. Andy Haworth drove upfield, skipped around a couple of Vale defenders and lashed a shot goalwards. Chris Martin (no, not that one) in the Port Vale goal scampered, but the shot finished just wide of the post. Vale quickly recovered and forced a string of corners which worked the Dale defence hard.
Whilst the rest of his team were upfield, I suspect that Chris Martin was digging trenches around his eighteen yard box. Vale fell back on the prepared positions and set themselves to repel the Dale assault. Dale prodded, probed and on occasion they seemed to have broken through only for the Vale defence to rally and throw them back again. A powerful O'Grady header was deflected away from goal by a Vale defender throwing himself in the path of the ball. Dagnall was hurried into a shot by a charging Valiant, the effort going well over and later Dagnall would have the ball whipped off his toe by Chris Martin as he shaped to shoot.
With minutes to go, the beseiged Valiants did manage to break out. Lewis Haldane producing the only on target effort of the half which Heaton saved comfortably.
During halftime, Mr. Golden Gamble did his stuff, Mr. Sweetmore read out the halftime scores and then treated us to a selection of music. Mr. Sweetmore has won awards for the quality of the music played at Spotland. The mix of indie classics is some of the best I have heard at any football ground - and I have been to a few. Thererfore what happened next was a bit out of the ordinary. I was chatting to Messers Culshaw, Ashworth, Sharples and Jones - when as a man we realised something was very wrong. The latest tune seemed to consist exclusively of a stream of profanities. We looked at Mr. Sweetmore and mouthed 'What?' Thankfully the players came trotting out, the track was cut off and Mr. Sweetmore wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
The second half started at express pace. Haworth romped into the box and lashed the ball goalward, Martin parried, Dagnall pounced - but Martin recovered and beat away the danger. Moments later the second best chance of the game fell to that man Lewis Haldane. His shot picked up a crazy deflection which sent it soaring into the night sky before dropping towards Tom Heaton's goal. Fortunately, Heaton was alert to the danger, back pedalled furiously and clawed the ball around the post.
After that little flurry of activity, Vale returned to their trenches. Dale hammered at the defences - but the Valiants were not to be moved. Tom Kennedy limped off to be replaced by McArdle, Gary Jones (remember him?) replaced Jason Kennedy, Higginbotham replaced Haworth. Dale had played all of their cards in an effort to breach the stubborn Vale defences. Chances came and went, but half chances at best. However, just for one instant it seemed that Dale had broken the deadlock. From all of ten yards and with the goal at his mercy, Dagnall unleashed a rasping shot. It smashed off the underside of that bar and bounced back into play. It would prove to be Dale's best chance of the game.
As time ebbed away, Vale appealed for a penalty after Haldane collapsed theatrically in the area under challenge from McArdle - no penalty - and Dale appealed minutes later when Anthony Griffiths appeared to handle the ball in the Valiants area - no penalty.
Stalemate.
Speak Your Brains
Your cast for today: Myself and Mr. Keane.
Dale stretch their lead to 10 points at the top of League Two.
First draw of the season at Spotland and Dale's first 0-0 since August 2008 - against Grimsby.
For all the effort expended tonight, it was a bit of a non-event - that's the second time that has happened to me today.
It was good to see Jones again - although his introduction did seem a bit 'last throw of the dice'.
Port Vale wanted a point. Port Vale got a point. The most determined defensive performance I have seen all season - not exactly thrilling to watch - but I guess that's what the threat of the sack will do for you.
Following what turned out to be a very tough test, Dale will no doubt be looking forward to a nice low key game next time out. Unlucky. See you at Gigg Lane.
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