Tranmere Rovers continued their resurgence under Ronnie Moore with a professional win which leaves Rochdale five points from safety in League One.

James Wallace put the visitors ahead when he capitalised on a mistake by Jason Kennedy and curled the ball home.

Wallace almost added a second after the break while at the other end, Gary Jones hit a post for Dale from a deflected free-kick.

But substitute Jake Cassidy did make it 2-0 when he fired in from 18 yards.

The win sees Tranmere move seven points clear of the drop zone.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Rochdale manager John Coleman told BBC Radio Manchester:

"I can't explain it. The frustrating thing for me is we've lost four games and they've all been on a Tuesday night.

"Tonight just isn't acceptable in the first half. In the second half we were a lot better.

"We've got a certain way of playing which heavily involves passing the ball and we couldn't pass the ball tonight.

"It's not a case of tiredness, we were just poor tonight. Our passing was poor, we didn't close them down or react quick enough."

Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"In the first half I thought we were fantastic and I think that's the best we've been since I've been here.

"I think overall, we were the better side.

"We're still not safe, we know that and there is still a lot of work to do.

"We need four more points now, maybe five, to be safe and if we can get the same result on Saturday it will take us a long way to being safe."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (4)

Rochdale

  • 23 Lucas
  • 12 Long
  • 17 Holden
  • 22 Jordan
  • 25 Edwards
  • 07 Kennedy
  • 08 Jones
  • 10 Grimes (Adams - 46' )
  • 16 Tutte
  • 09 Symes
  • 19 Obadeyi (Akpa Akpro - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Edwards
  • 03 Widdowson
  • 06 Barry-Murphy
  • 11 Adams
  • 26 Akpa Akpro

Tranmere

  • 01 fon Williams
  • 05 Goodison
  • 12 Taylor
  • 15 Holmes
  • 16 Buchanan
  • 08 Welsh
  • 11 Robinson
  • 27 Wallace
  • 07 Showunmi (Bakayogo - 67' )
  • 17 Akins
  • 28 Brunt (Cassidy - 78' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 13 Coughlin
  • 03 Bakayogo
  • 04 Labadie
  • 10 Weir
  • 18 Cassidy
Ref: Miller
Att: 2,618

Match Stats

Shots

14 21

On target

6 9

Corners

6 8

Fouls

7 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:05 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +2:15

Effort from inside the area by Jake Cassidy misses to the right of the target.

89:12

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro takes a shot. Ian Goodison gets a block in.

88:51

The referee blows for offside against Zoumana Bakayogo. Free kick taken by David Lucas.

87:54

David Buchanan challenges Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by David Lucas.

87:35

Corner taken by Andy Robinson.

87:24

Andy Robinson takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Jordan.

86:46

Corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy, save made by Owain Fon Williams.

86:32

Gary Jones takes a shot. Lucas Akins gets a block in.

86:17

Jake Cassidy is ruled offside. Free kick taken by David Lucas.

86:01 Booking

Booking Jake Cassidy receives a yellow card.

85:04

Corner taken by Andy Robinson, David Lucas makes a save.

84:52

Lucas Akins takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Long.

83:44

Jake Cassidy challenges Kevin Long unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Lucas takes the free kick.

81:14

Assist on the goal came from Owain Fon Williams.

81:14 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Cassidy - Rochdale 0 - 2 Tranmere Jake Cassidy grabs a goal from just outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Rochdale 0-2 Tranmere.

80:33

Shot by Andrew Tutte from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

77:42 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Brunt leaves the field to be replaced by Jake Cassidy.

75:36

Gary Jones produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

73:20

Lucas Akins takes a shot. Dean Holden gets a block in.

72:39

Corner taken by David Buchanan, Ash Taylor has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

70:06

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Save by Owain Fon Williams.

69:28

The referee blows for offside against Ash Taylor. David Lucas takes the direct free kick.

68:50

Corner taken left-footed by David Buchanan from the right by-line, clearance by Stephen Jordan.

67:52

Danny Holmes produces a cross, clearance by Dean Holden.

66:29

David Buchanan sends in a cross.

66:29 Substitution

Substitution Zoumana Bakayogo is brought on as a substitute for Enoch Showunmi.

66:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Phil Edwards on Andy Robinson.

65:07

Corner taken by Andy Robinson, Lucas Akins takes a shot. David Lucas makes a save.

63:04

Shot by Andrew Tutte from outside the box goes high over the crossbar.

62:09

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy from the right by-line.

61:53

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Ian Goodison gets a block in.

59:45

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy from the left by-line to the near post, save made by Owain Fon Williams.

59:38

The ball is sent over by Nicky Adams, Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

58:10

Ryan Brunt has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

57:52

Andrew Tutte takes a shot. Save made by Owain Fon Williams.

55:58

James Wallace fouled by Gary Jones, the ref awards a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Andy Robinson from the free kick.

55:09

Effort on goal by Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

50:54

Effort on goal by Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

48:40

Foul by Ian Goodison on Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, free kick awarded. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Gary Jones. Corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Ian Goodison.

47:51

James Wallace takes a shot. Save made by David Lucas.

47:03

Andy Robinson has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

46:55

The ball is sent over by Lucas Akins, Phil Edwards makes a clearance.

46:16

Centre by Phil Edwards, Ian Goodison manages to make a clearance.

45:43

Outswinging corner taken by Jason Kennedy from the right by-line, clearance made by Ian Goodison.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro on for Temitope Obadeyi.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Grimes leaves the field to be replaced by Nicky Adams.

45:00 +1:11 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

43:55

Unfair challenge on Michael Symes by James Wallace results in a free kick. Stephen Jordan produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

39:49

Corner taken by Andy Robinson, Stephen Jordan makes a clearance.

38:09

Enoch Showunmi has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses left.

37:21

David Buchanan delivers the ball, save made by David Lucas.

36:00

The ball is sent over by Phil Edwards, clearance made by Ian Goodison.

35:00

Effort from range distance by Ryan Brunt goes wide of the right-hand upright.

33:54

Enoch Showunmi has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

30:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Brunt on Dean Holden. David Lucas takes the free kick.

28:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Robinson by Phil Edwards. The ball is swung over by Andy Robinson, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Ian Goodison goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

27:54

Assist by James Wallace.

27:54 Goal scored

Goal - James Wallace - Rochdale 0 - 1 Tranmere James Wallace grabs a goal from outside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Rochdale 0-1 Tranmere.

26:27

Jason Kennedy concedes a free kick for a foul on James Wallace. Direct free kick taken by Owain Fon Williams.

23:23

Temitope Obadeyi concedes a free kick for a foul on James Wallace. Andy Robinson crosses the ball in from the free kick, Stephen Jordan manages to make a clearance.

22:42

Ian Goodison takes a shot. David Lucas makes a save.

22:22

Ashley Grimes is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by David Buchanan.

21:47

Handball decision goes against Gary Jones. Direct free kick taken by John Welsh.

20:21

Ryan Brunt has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

16:19

Foul by Enoch Showunmi on David Lucas, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by David Lucas.

10:30

Andy Robinson takes a corner.

10:02

Andy Robinson takes the inswinging corner, James Wallace takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Jordan.

8:57

Shot from just outside the box by James Wallace goes over the crossbar.

7:09

Jason Kennedy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Buchanan. David Buchanan takes the direct free kick. Shot from just outside the box by Andy Robinson goes over the bar.

4:05

The offside flag is raised against Ashley Grimes. Owain Fon Williams takes the free kick.

3:26

Andrew Tutte gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Robinson. David Buchanan takes the free kick.

2:30

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Temitope Obadeyi misses to the left of the target.

1:45

Corner taken by Jason Kennedy from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by John Welsh.

1:31

Ashley Grimes takes a shot. Ian Goodison gets a block in.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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