Match ends, Rochdale 1, Bristol Rovers 2.
RochdaleRochdale1Bristol RoversBristol Rovers2
Bristol Rovers survived Rochdale's second-half onslaught to hang on for victory at the Crown Oil Arena.
Graham Coughlan's men caught the home side cold with two early goals, taking the lead in the eighth minute when Liam Sercombe's corner was nodded back into the mix by Tony Craig and Victor Adeboyejo hooked the ball past Jay Lynch.
Rovers doubled their lead in the 11th minute courtesy of an own goal, Eoghan O'Connell diverting a vicious cross from Michael Kelly past Lynch.
Callum Camps pulled one back for Rochdale in the 43rd minute, poking home Ollie Rathbone's nod down after a fine cross from Luke Matheson.
And though Dale bossed the second half, Rovers goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola frustrated the home supporters with saves to deny Rekeil Pyke, Ian Henderson and Rathbone.
The Rovers backline came under intense pressure for long spells but the visitors saw the game out for their first win in four games and lie just a point outside the play-off places.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Rochdale
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Lynch
- 41Matheson
- 6O'Connell
- 15McShane
- 3Norrington-Davies
- 14RathboneSubstituted forAndrewat 81'minutes
- 8WilliamsSubstituted forPykeat 62'minutes
- 28Morley
- 10Camps
- 40Henderson
- 16DoneSubstituted forTavaresat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Andrew
- 11Pyke
- 13Keohane
- 20Ryan
- 31Wade
- 35Bradley
- 37Tavares
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-5-1
- 32Jaakkola
- 2Little
- 15KilgourBooked at 37mins
- 5Craig
- 18Kelly
- 33RodmanSubstituted forMenayeseat 86'minutes
- 4OgogoBooked at 87mins
- 6UpsonSubstituted forLeahyat 71'minutes
- 8O Clarke
- 7Sercombe
- 29AdeboyejoSubstituted forSmithat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 1van Stappershoef
- 10Nichols
- 11Leahy
- 17Smith
- 23Bennett
- 24Menayese
- 36Hargreaves
- Referee:
- Martin Coy
- Attendance:
- 3,038
Match Stats
Home TeamRochdaleAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away2
- Corners
- Home9
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rochdale 1, Bristol Rovers 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ian Henderson (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Fabio Tavares with a headed pass.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Alfie Kilgour.
Post update
Foul by Callum Camps (Rochdale).
Post update
Tyler Smith (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Anssi Jaakkola.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Rollin Menayese.
Post update
Luke Matheson (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers).
Booking
Abu Ogogo (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Attempt missed. Fabio Tavares (Rochdale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Rollin Menayese replaces Alex Rodman.
Post update
Paul McShane (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Tyler Smith (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Attempt missed. Luke Leahy (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Abu Ogogo with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Calvin Andrew replaces Oliver Rathbone.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Tyler Smith replaces Victor Adeboyejo.
Post update
Foul by Eoghan O'Connell (Rochdale).
Post update
Abu Ogogo (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
