Rochdale 1-2 Bristol Rovers

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
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Rochdale

• 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

• 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

Posted at

Match ends, Rochdale 1, Bristol Rovers 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Rochdale 1, Bristol Rovers 2.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt missed. Ian Henderson (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Fabio Tavares with a headed pass.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Alfie Kilgour.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Callum Camps (Rochdale).

Posted at 90'+2'

Tyler Smith (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Anssi Jaakkola.

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Rollin Menayese.

Posted at 89'

Luke Matheson (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers).

Booking

Posted at 87'

Abu Ogogo (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 86'

Attempt missed. Fabio Tavares (Rochdale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.

Substitution

Posted at 86'

Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Rollin Menayese replaces Alex Rodman.

Posted at 85'

Paul McShane (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Tyler Smith (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 82'

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

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Rochdale. Calvin Andrew replaces Oliver Rathbone.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Tyler Smith replaces Victor Adeboyejo.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Eoghan O'Connell (Rochdale).

Posted at 81'

Abu Ogogo (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 80'

Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Anssi Jaakkola.

Posted at 80'

Attempt saved. Ian Henderson (Rochdale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 77'

Offside, Rochdale. Aaron Morley tries a through ball, but Ian Henderson is caught offside.

Posted at 77'

Fabio Tavares (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Michael Kelly (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 76'

Attempt saved. Eoghan O'Connell (Rochdale) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Aaron Morley.

Posted at 76'

Oliver Rathbone (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 74'

Foul by Fabio Tavares (Rochdale).

Posted at 74'

Luke Leahy (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 74'

Attempt saved. Ian Henderson (Rochdale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Matheson.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Luke Matheson (Rochdale) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Fabio Tavares.

Posted at 73'

Offside, Bristol Rovers. Luke Leahy tries a through ball, but Victor Adeboyejo is caught offside.

Posted at 73'

Attempt blocked. Oliver Rathbone (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 72'

Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Anssi Jaakkola.

Posted at 72'

Attempt saved. Oliver Rathbone (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eoghan O'Connell.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Rochdale. Fabio Tavares replaces Matt Done.

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Luke Leahy replaces Ed Upson.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Ollie Clarke.

Posted at 69'

Rekeil Pyke (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.

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