Rochdale stage impressive comeback against Tranmere

Tranmere visited Rochdale this evening in their latest fixture in the 2022/23 League Two season.

Match Report: Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers

Rochdale 2 v 2 Tranmere Rovers
Lloyd-McGoldrick (69′)
Ebanks-Landell (90’+3)
GoalsO’Donnell (19′ og)
Hawkes (56′ pen)
Brierley (69′)
Lloyd-McGoldrick (90’+3)
Assists
HT 0-1

Bottom side Rochdale kept their slim survival hopes intact after coming from behind to punish Tranmere, who surrendered a comfortable two-goal lead. 

The game’s tempo was at a low, with neither side being able to gain a foothold in the contest, but the possession was hogged by Rochdale. 

Tranmere added urgency to their game and began to press from the front, which caused Rochdale into unforced errors and after many warnings, Rovers finally drew first blood, but not in the way they expected. 

A simple-looking back pass fell to the feet of Richard O’Donnell, but the ball comically fell under his foot and trickled in, giving Rovers the breakthrough. 

This sparked another reaction from Tranmere, who were out for more and to compile further misery on Rochdale, with their Football League status all but lost. 

O’Donnell made amends for his earlier mistake by producing a preposterous save to deny Regan Hendry, who clambered above his markers to win a header, and the Rochdale number one shifted across to clip the ball behind. 

The hosts almost levelled proceedings within a matter of moments, with two efforts agonisingly squandered. 

The first cannoned off the bar before the follow up by Ethan Ebanks-Landell was clawed out of the top corner by Mateusz Hewelt. 

Tranmere had two consecutive efforts that missed marginally, but the screw was beginning to be twisted by the visitors. 

The half-time whistle came at a good time both, as Rochdale could go in one goal down and motivated to get something from the contest knowing relegation was a real possibility.

For Ian Dawes, he would have wanted his side to be a little more clinical in front of goal. 

It was the hosts, with their 102-year Football League status on the line, who came flying out the blocks desperate to salvage something, and Liam Kelly’s effort early in the second half was valiantly blocked to keep Dale at bay for the time being. 

Despite Rochdale’s chance, Tranmere made them rue it in the worst style possible after being presented a golden opportunity from the penalty spot. 

Josh Hawkes showed immense calmness to dispatch the penalty past O’Donnell. 

Dale were fighting an uphill battle but in true fashion, they fought back immensely and they soon found themselves back in the game after reducing the arrears. 

Ethan Brierley forced Hewelt into a routine save minutes earlier, but he then turned provider after laying off Danny Lloyd, who shifted inside and drilled an effort from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.  

Both sides probed and a goal from either avenue seemed the likely outcome, and in true fighting spirit, Rochdale levelled in the final minute. 

Lloyd crossed in desperate fashion and he found Ebanks-Landell gaping in the box, and after rising high to win the in-swinging ball, his header beat Hewelt and flew in, which gave a down Rochdale outfit something to cheer about.

Tranmere host Grimsby Town for a 3pm kick off on Saturday 22 April in their next game of the 2022/23 League Two season.

Match Highlights

Gallery

Credit: Tony Coombes

Following soon …

Fans’ Twitter Reaction



Post Match Interview

Line-ups

Rochdale – Formation 4-4-2
1 Richard O’Donnell GK
13 Jimmy Keohane DF
22 Owen Dodgson DF
6 Ethan Ebanks-Landell (C) DF
5 Max Taylor DF
14 Ethan Brierley MF
25 Danny Lloyd MF
7 Liam Kelly MF
9 D’Mani Mellor MF
40 Ian Henderson FW
11 Abraham Odoh FW
Substitutes
21 Jake Eastwood SUB
15 Sam Graham SUB
24 Cameron John SUB
26 Toby Mullarkey SUB
8 Jimmy Ball SUB
17 Tyrese Sinclair SUB
10 Devante Rodney SUB

Manager
Jimmy McNulty

Match Officials
Referee:
Scott Tallis
Assistants: Richard Bartlett and Paul Stonier
Fourth official: Darren Handley

Tranmere Rovers – Formation 4-1-4-1
23 Mateusz Hewelt GK
2 Josh Dacres-Cogley DF
3 Ethan Bristow DF
5 Tom Davies DF
14 Jordan Turnbull DF
24 Regan Hendry MF
11 Josh Hawkes MF
33 Jay Turner-Cook MF
17 Rhys Hughes MF
26 Harvey Saunders MF
10 Kane Hemmings (C) FW
Substitutes
4 Lee O’Connor SUB
34 Florent Hoti SUB
27 Jake Burton SUB
25 Joel Mumbongo SUB
32 Samuel Taylor SUB

Manager
Ian Dawes

Attendance: TBC

League Table

League 2 season attendance

DateOpponentHome
Attendance
Away
Attendance
20/07/2022Stevenage6111
06/08/2022Mansfield Town7128
13/08/2022Gillingham5414
16/08/2022Hartlepool Utd4072
20/08/2022Newport County4070
27/08/2022Colchester Utd5041
03/09/2022Leyton Orient6578
13/09/2022Bradford City5864
17/09/2022Salford City3175
24/09/2022Walsall5845
01/10/2022Barrow6123
08/10/2022Sutton Utd3007
14/10/2022Crewe Alexandra8001
22/10/2022Harrogate Town2316
25/10/2022Rochdale5742
29/10/2022Carlisle6576
01/11/2022Stockport County6800
12/11/2022Swindon Town9425
19/11/2022AFC Wimbledon6010
03/12/2022Northampton Town5,601
10/12/2022Grimsby Town5134
26/12/2022Doncaster7033
29/12/2022Barrow3383
01/01/2023Crewe Alexandra5349
07/01/2023Sutton United5368
14/01/2023Walsall6027
28/01/2023Leyton Orient5946
04/02/2023Stockport County10231
07/02/2023Doncaster Rovers5775
11/02/2023Salford City6516
14/02/2023Bradford City15482
18/02/2023Mansfield Town6282
25/02/2023Stevenage3675
28/02/2023Crawley Town5104
04/03/2023Hartlepool United6320
11/03/2023Gillingham5674
18/03/2023Newport County5496
25/03/2023Colchester United3420
31/03/2023Harrogate Town5861
07/04/2023Carlisle United13410
10/04/2023Swindon Town5654
15/04/2023Crawley Town2821
18/04/2023RochdaleTBC
2022/23 Total home attendance127289
2022/23 Total away attendance125571
2022/23 Total attendance (Home & Away)252860
2022/23 Average home attendance6061
2022/23 Average away attendance2980
2022/23 Total average attendance6020

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