Rochdale 0-0 Ipswich Town - Half-Time
Tuesday, 5th Nov 2019 20:47

Town’s game at Rochdale remains 0-0 at half-time, although the Blues have hit the woodwork twice.

Boss Paul Lambert made two changes for the Blues’ first ever game against Dale with Jon Nolan and Alan Judge back in the starting XI.

Nolan was at the centre of a four-man midfield for Flynn Downes, who was suspended, while Judge was on the left wing.

Gwion Edwards was on the right of the back four with Kane Vincent-Young out for a few weeks having undergone groin surgery in Doha last week.

Town saw most of the ball in the opening minutes, mainly down the left, with Rochdale struggling to get out of their own half.

However, they were unable to create even a half-chance until the 10th minute when Luke Garbutt blazed well over from 20 yards from Kayden Jackson’s stab back from the edge of the area.

A minute later, Nolan scuffed Edwards’s ball in from the right across the face of goal with the Blues dominating possession in the opening spell.

But in the 14th minute, with their first serious attack of the game, Rochdale almost took the lead.

From a long punt forward, Matt Done sent over a low ball from the left which reached Rekeil Pyke at the back post and his low shot was just diverted past the post by a Town heel.

Two minutes later, Callum Camps struck a well-hit effort from distance which flew beyond Will Norris in the Town goal and also his left post.

Rochdale were seeing more of the ball and on 19 Norris failed to hold a Done cross from the left but was able to claim at the second attempt.

But Town were still having more of the possession without being able to carve out a clear-cut opportunity.

Rochdale, however, came close again in the 22nd minute, Camps playing the ball into the path of Done as he broke into the area but fortunately for the Blues the former Sheffield United man’s shot was straight at Norris.

The home side, with 17-year-old Luke Matheson on the right looking a very promising talent, continued to look the more likely scorers, despite more of the game being played in their half, albeit without Lynch in their goal being threatened.

On 33 Edwards claimed he’d been fouled as he collided with Done as a long ball was pumped forward but referee Scott Oldham waved play on allowing Jimmy Keohane to cut back to Camps, whose strike was blocked by Chambers.

Town came close for the first time in the 36th minute from a Judge corner on the right when Luke Woolfenden’s header from six yards out appeared to go through a crowd of players and hit the post.

The ball was eventually sent back in from the right and James Norwood nodded straight at home keeper Jay Lynch.

Rochdale ended the half on top and on 44 Norwood was booked for a frustrated foul. However, seconds before the whistle, the Blues came within a whisker of going in front.

Following a half-cleared short corner on the right, Garbutt cut inside and unleashed a powerful left-foot strike which slammed against the bar.

There was still time for a Lynch long kick to almost catch out Edwards on halfway, Dale skipper Ian Henderson failing to read the Welshman’s error, before referee Oldham ended the half.

The Blues had had long spells in possession - with the half overall having seen more football than most of Town’s recent away matches - but with Rochdale getting men behind the ball and preventing them from creating a serious chance in open play with both Woolfenden and Garbutt’s efforts against the woodwork from corners.

At the other end, Dale had broken quickly and had carved out enough chances to feel they might well have grabbed a goal before the break.

Rochdale: Lynch, O’Connell, Williams, Camps, Pyke, Keohane, McShane, Done, Morley, Henderson (c), Matheson. Subs: McLaughlin, Andrew, Ryan, Wade, Bradley, Tavares, Hopper.

Town: Norris, Edwards, Woolfenden, Chambers (c), Garbutt, Rowe, Nolan, Skuse, Judge, Norwood, Jackson. Subs: Holy, Huws, Dozzell, Kenlock, Keane, Georgiou, Wilson. Referee: Scott Oldham (Lancashire).

Photo: Action Images

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