Rochdale battled to a goalless draw at Colchester to continue their revival under boss John Coleman.

Colchester enjoyed the best of the first half as Freddie Sears and Ian Henderson came close and Steven Gillespie forced a Peter Kurucz save.

Ben Williams pulled off a brilliant close-range save from Dale's Michael Symes shortly after the break.

Sears came close again, firing over from a tight angle before Symes sliced wide in the closing stages.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Colchester United manager John Ward told BBC Essex:

"We couldn't find the opening, but we stopped them getting the opening as well. We're going to get some disappointments like this.

"We've worked hard, and had a disciplined performance from the team, but won the ball back enough times to have done better with it.

"We played tight but couldn't find that final bit of quality in the top 30 yards of the pitch.

"That's the frustrating bit, that's the best part of out team really, over the season, that's the one consistency we have had where we've created chances and we've had opportunities. Today we've found that hard to come by."

Rochdale manager John Coleman told BBC Radio Manchester:

"Neither goalkeeper was overly worked possibly due to the fact how both teams set up they really cancelled each other out.

"We're going to have to take more impetus and possibly take a few more chances going forward.

"But the first thing that needed addressing when we came here was the number of goals conceded and we've done that.

"We've got a philosophy of how the game should be played and we're trying to bring that to Rochdale and the lads are getting closer."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Colchester

  • 01 Williams
  • 04 Okuonghae
  • 18 Eastman
  • 20 Wilson
  • 25 White
  • 10 Izzet Booked
  • 17 Rowlands (Bond - 60' )
  • 22 Wordsworth
  • 09 Gillespie
  • 11 Sears
  • 16 Henderson

Substitutes

  • 03 Rose
  • 06 Heath
  • 14 Bond
  • 23 James
  • 15 Odejayi

Rochdale

  • 01 Kurucz
  • 02 Darby
  • 03 Widdowson
  • 05 Amankwaah (Holden - 84' )
  • 12 Long Booked
  • 22 Jordan (Grimes - 46' )
  • 06 Barry-Murphy
  • 07 Kennedy
  • 08 Jones
  • 11 Adams (Tutte - 75' )
  • 09 Symes Booked

Substitutes

  • 23 Lucas
  • 17 Holden
  • 10 Grimes
  • 15 Thompson
  • 16 Tutte
Ref: Coote
Att: 3,096

Match Stats

Shots

6 6

On target

1 2

Corners

2 8

Fouls

7 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +1:24

Corner taken left-footed by Brian Barry-Murphy from the right by-line, Jason Kennedy takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy from the left by-line, Kevin Long gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Gillespie. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.

90:00 +1:24

Brian Barry-Murphy takes the inswinging corner, Jason Kennedy takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams. Jason Kennedy takes the inswinging corner, Kevin Long concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Gillespie. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.

90:00 +0:05

Corner taken right-footed by Andy Bond, save by Peter Kurucz.

87:52

The assistant referee flags for offside against Freddie Sears. Direct free kick taken by Brian Barry-Murphy.

83:47 Substitution

Substitution Dean Holden on for Kevin Amankwaah.

81:36

Effort from close in by Michael Symes goes wide left of the target.

80:24

Handball decision goes against Freddie Sears. Direct free kick taken by Peter Kurucz.

79:31

Unfair challenge on Andrew Tutte by Andy Bond results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Long.

77:46

Effort from inside the area by Freddie Sears misses to the right of the target.

75:26

The assistant referee signals for offside against Steven Gillespie. Peter Kurucz takes the direct free kick.

73:46

Free kick taken by Brian Barry-Murphy.

73:46 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Tutte replaces Nicky Adams.

73:46 Booking

Booking Kemal Izzet goes into the referee's book.

73:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jason Kennedy by Kemal Izzet.

71:09

The referee blows for offside against Steven Gillespie. Direct free kick taken by Peter Kurucz.

67:44

Effort on goal by John White from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

66:37

The assistant referee flags for offside against Michael Symes. Direct free kick taken by Magnus Okuonghae.

65:02

The official flags Michael Symes offside. Ben Williams takes the direct free kick.

63:57

Ian Henderson concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Long. Brian Barry-Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

62:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Brian Barry-Murphy by Kemal Izzet. Peter Kurucz restarts play with the free kick.

61:44

Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth, clearance by Jason Kennedy.

58:08 Substitution

Substitution Andy Bond is brought on as a substitute for Martin Rowlands.

58:08

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy from the left by-line, Kevin Amankwaah has a headed effort at goal from close in that strikes the post. Kemal Izzet is caught offside. Peter Kurucz restarts play with the free kick.

57:39

Jason Kennedy decides to take the corner short.

55:58

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Brian Barry-Murphy, clearance by Tom Eastman.

51:50

The official flags Michael Symes offside. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.

50:01

Michael Symes takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a brilliant save.

47:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ashley Grimes by Kemal Izzet. Shot comes in from Brian Barry-Murphy from the free kick.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Stephen Jordan leaves the field to be replaced by Ashley Grimes.

45:00 +2:32 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +1:43 Booking

Booking Kevin Long receives a yellow card.

45:00 +0:40

Brian Barry-Murphy takes the inswinging corner, Ben Williams makes a comfortable save.

39:27

Long range shot from Michael Symes misses to the left of the target.

37:44

Nicky Adams is flagged offside by the assistant referee. John White takes the direct free kick.

33:24

Unfair challenge on Steven Gillespie by Joe Widdowson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Brian Wilson. Joe Widdowson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Brian Wilson. Martin Rowlands takes the free kick.

32:35

Corner taken by Jason Kennedy from the left by-line played to the near post, save by Ben Williams.

30:30

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Brian Barry-Murphy, John White makes a clearance.

29:27

Shot on goal by Anthony Wordsworth from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

28:15

Ian Henderson produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.

21:23

Free kick taken by Martin Rowlands.

21:23 Booking

Booking Michael Symes is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

21:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kemal Izzet by Michael Symes.

20:49

Ian Henderson fouled by Jason Kennedy, the ref awards a free kick. Ian Henderson takes the free kick.

20:00

Steven Gillespie takes a shot. Save by Peter Kurucz.

15:05

Anthony Wordsworth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Darby. Brian Barry-Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

13:47

The referee blows for offside against Michael Symes. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.

11:36

The official flags Michael Symes offside. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.

9:19

Effort from the edge of the box by Freddie Sears goes wide of the right-hand upright.

5:33

Steven Gillespie concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Amankwaah. Peter Kurucz takes the direct free kick.

3:58

The referee blows for offside. Magnus Okuonghae takes the direct free kick.

1:33

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Peter Kurucz.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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