Jason Kennedy's goal gave Rochdale back-to-back wins and left Scunthorpe still looking for a first league victory of the season.

Ashley Grimes' angled drive for the hosts and a volley from the Iron's Jimmy Ryan were the best chances in the first half.

Kennedy broke the deadlock when Grimes' curling shot was parried into his path and he tapped home from six yards.

Bobby Grant had a header cleared off the line as Steve Eyre's side held on.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Rochdale manager Steve Eyre told BBC Radio Manchester:

"Despite our early domination we re-grouped at half-time, we said it was going to be a 1-0 game and so it proved to be.

"We only allowed them to get in front of us, not behind us and the lads looked strong and were solid.

"First and foremost you'll take a win at this level and if you ask manager, and I'm no different, 1-0 is the best scoreline".

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Rochdale

  • 01 Kean Booked
  • 02 Darby
  • 03 Widdowson
  • 04 Holness
  • 12 Balkestein
  • 07 Kennedy
  • 08 Jones
  • 10 Grimes Booked
  • 16 Tutte (Barry-Murphy - 83' )
  • 26 Akpa Akpro (Barnes-Homer - 74' )
  • 39 Ball

Substitutes

  • 23 Lucas
  • 05 Trotman
  • 06 Barry-Murphy
  • 19 Barnes-Homer
  • 28 Gray

Scunthorpe

  • 27 Johnstone
  • 02 Wright
  • 03 Nolan
  • 15 Reid
  • 26 Duffy
  • 04 Togwell (O'Connor - 72' )
  • 07 Ryan (Duffy - 64' )
  • 12 Mozika
  • 14 Norwood (Thompson - 80' )
  • 09 Dagnall
  • 17 Grant

Substitutes

  • 13 Slocombe
  • 19 Canavan
  • 08 O'Connor
  • 11 Thompson
  • 16 Duffy
Ref: Geoff Eltringham
Att: 2,368

Match Stats

Shots

13 14

On target

8 8

Corners

7 6

Fouls

6 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:04 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:12

Chris Dagnall takes a shot. Marcus Holness gets a block in.

90:00 +1:54

Eddie Nolan fouled by David Ball, the ref awards a free kick. Headed cross/shot by Bobby Grant, Stephen Darby manages to make a clearance.

89:54 Booking

Booking Caution for Jake Kean.

89:29

The assistant referee flags for offside against Damien Mozika. Jake Kean takes the free kick.

87:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Brian Barry-Murphy on Damien Mozika. The ball is crossed by Michael O'Connor, Header on goal by Shane Duffy from just inside the area goes over the goal.

85:48

Michael O'Connor challenges David Ball unfairly and gives away a free kick. Brian Barry-Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

83:34

Centre by Michael O'Connor, save by Jake Kean.

82:38 Substitution

Substitution Brian Barry-Murphy is brought on as a substitute for Andrew Tutte.

81:07

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael O'Connor, clearance by Matthew Barnes-Homer.

79:59 Substitution

Substitution Oliver Norwood leaves the field to be replaced by Garry Thompson.

78:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Damien Mozika on David Ball. Marcus Holness takes the direct free kick.

78:15

Effort on goal by Chris Dagnall from 18 yards. Blocked by Stephen Darby.

73:01 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Barnes-Homer joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

71:51 Substitution

Substitution Michael O'Connor is brought on as a substitute for Sam Togwell.

71:10

Mark Duffy crosses the ball.

68:25

Oliver Norwood has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

66:49

Mark Duffy has an effort at goal. Marcus Holness gets a block in. Chris Dagnall has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

65:39

Oliver Norwood crosses the ball in from the free kick, Jake Kean makes a comfortable save.

65:39 Booking

Booking Ashley Grimes booked.

65:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Shane Duffy by Ashley Grimes.

64:54

Ashley Grimes takes a shot. Sam Johnstone makes a comfortable save.

63:45 Substitution

Substitution Mark Duffy replaces Jimmy Ryan.

60:49

Andrew Wright delivers the ball, Jimmy Ryan has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

58:09 Goal scored

Goal - Jason Kennedy - Rochdale 1 - 0 Scunthorpe Jason Kennedy grabs a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Rochdale 1-0 Scunthorpe.

56:57

Foul by Chris Dagnall on Jason Kennedy, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Pim Balkestein.

50:33

David Ball takes a shot. Paul Reid gets a block in. Corner from the right by-line taken by Andrew Tutte, Paul Reid manages to make a clearance.

48:01

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

45:22

Damien Mozika challenges Joe Widdowson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jake Kean.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:14 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +0:53

Damien Mozika takes a shot. Blocked by Marcus Holness.

44:20

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Oliver Norwood from the right by-line, clearance made by Marcus Holness. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Oliver Norwood, Stephen Darby manages to make a clearance.

43:58

David Ball concedes a free kick for a foul on Shane Duffy. Free kick taken by Paul Reid.

39:30

Unfair challenge on Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro by Paul Reid results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Stephen Darby.

36:04

Corner taken by Andrew Tutte played to the near post, Damien Mozika manages to make a clearance.

35:13

Foul by Andrew Tutte on Eddie Nolan, free kick awarded. Paul Reid takes the direct free kick.

27:06

Corner from the right by-line taken by Andrew Tutte, Marcus Holness has a drilled shot. Blocked by Shane Duffy.

26:31

Corner taken right-footed by Andrew Tutte from the right by-line, Pim Balkestein takes a shot. Paul Reid makes a clearance.

25:35

Sam Togwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jason Kennedy. Direct free kick taken by Marcus Holness.

24:33

David Ball has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.

23:40

Jimmy Ryan has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Blocked by Pim Balkestein. Corner taken right-footed by Oliver Norwood, Gary Jones manages to make a clearance.

20:33

Stephen Darby fouled by Jimmy Ryan, the ref awards a free kick. Andrew Tutte crosses the ball in from the free kick.

18:59

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Eddie Nolan. Sam Johnstone takes the direct free kick.

18:39

Jason Kennedy fouled by Bobby Grant, the ref awards a free kick. Pim Balkestein takes the direct free kick.

18:00

Oliver Norwood has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

16:32

David Ball sends in a cross, Andrew Wright makes a clearance.

14:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro by Sam Togwell. The ball is crossed by Joe Widdowson, Pim Balkestein takes a shot. Save made by Sam Johnstone.

13:18

Jimmy Ryan has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.

12:16

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro takes a shot. Sam Johnstone makes a save. Andrew Tutte takes the outswinging corner, Paul Reid makes a clearance.

10:38

Jimmy Ryan produces a volleyed right-footed shot from 25 yards. Save made by Jake Kean. Corner taken right-footed by Oliver Norwood from the right by-line, Paul Reid takes a shot. Save by Jake Kean. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Oliver Norwood from the right by-line, Marcus Holness makes a clearance.

7:49

Outswinging corner taken by Joe Widdowson, Header from close range by Marcus Holness misses to the right of the goal.

5:35

Gary Jones takes a shot. Paul Reid gets a block in. Ashley Grimes takes a shot. Blocked by Sam Johnstone. Andrew Tutte produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

3:15

Corner from right by-line taken by Andrew Tutte.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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