Port Vale came away from Spotland with a point after a dogged display earnt them a 0-0 draw.
Keith Hill stuck with the same side that started in the 4-1 demolition of Cheltenham at the weekend, with Andy Haworth making his home debut and Chris O'Grady playing at Spotland for the first time since his move to Dale was made permanent. Tom Heaton was in goals, with a defence of Scott Wiseman, Craig Dawson, Nathan Stanton and Tom Kennedy in front of him. Jason Kennedy and Jason Taylor started in central midfield, whilst the sale of Will Buckley to Watford earlier today meant Joe Thompson and Haworth started on the wings. Chris Dagnall partnered O'Grady up front, whilst former Dale loanees Louis Dodds, Marc Richards and Danny Glover were in the Port Vale squad.
Keith Hill will have expected his side to create more of the early chances as early goals have been in an important aspect of Dale's success in recent games. Andrew Haworth, fresh from a superb debut at Cheltenham, had Dale's first chance of the game as he drove down the left before coming into the box and firing just wide of Chris Martin's far post.
In the moments following that chance Vale showed they can play themselves as they forced a couple of early corners, but their set piece work failed them on those occasions as Dale were able to clear, with only a small scramble for the home defence to deal with.
Micky Adams seemed to have done his homework on Dale as Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall were being closed down well, with Gareth Owen making some crucial interceptions.
Tom Heaton's loan was extended in the week so he could play against Vale, but the Manchester United stopper nearly made a fatal error as he came to collect a ball which Valiants striker Craig Davies got to first, but the on-loan front man couldn't bring the ball down in time for an effort at goal.
In the 19th minute Dale had a superb chance to take the lead. Joe Thompson found himself on the right and he crossed towards Chris O'Grady. The striker caught the ball on the volley but with it seemingly set to burst the back of the net, it hit a Port Vale defender and just squirmed wide of Chris Martin's left post for a corner.
That chance seemed to spur Dale on as they began to take a bigger stranglehold on the game. Good football from Dale allowed them to keep up sustained pressure as Port Vale seemed content to clear their lines and weather the Dale storm. Chris Dagnall was seeing a lot of the ball and he carved out a superb chance for himself, but his effort sailed well wide.
Dagnall had almost had a tap-in two minutes later after superb work from striker partner Chris O'Grady. A turn from O'Grady saw him free on the left of the box before he cut inside and tried to find Dagnall, but Vale 'keeper Chris Martin was out well to smother the ball.
Micky Adams' side weren't going to crumble under the Dale pressure as they started to put their foot on the ball more. Lewis Haldane had a good effort on target after a neat lay off from Marc Richards, but Tom Heaton was equal to it as he held comfortably.
Dale's first half performance had failed to live up to their standard from previous games, with the league leaders unable to make some neat football count in the final third. The Port vale defence had held firm under pressure and the away side had a good spell themselves shortly before half-time, but like Dale they failed to make some good football count.
Chris Dagnall had half a chance with little over a minute remaining, but his half volley after a Chris O'Grady touch sailed well over the crossbar.
Just one minute of added time was shown by fourth official Paul Hodskinson, but neither side made it count and referee Craig Pawson signalled the end of the half as it ended goalless.
There were no changes for either side at half-time and it was Dale who came out storming at the beginning of the second period. Chris Dagnall flicked the ball to Andrew Haworth who took it well before testing Chris Martin with a shot. Martin could only parry out to Chris O'Grady who tried to work a chance before Dagnall had an effort to turn home which he couldn't finish.
Dale's early pressure continued and it was Haworth again who had a good effort from the edge of the area. He brought the ball inside after good work from O'Grady and Dagnall, but his shot left a lot to be desired as it sailed over the Vale crossbar.
Keith Hill had clearly had words with his side at half-time as they came out all guns blazing early on, with good work from Joe Thompson leading to a cross just evading Andy Haworth as Dale searched for an early goal in the second period.
Vale knew if this Dale pressure continued they would be in for a long second half, but they were able to have some possession of their own and would have taken the lead but for a fantastic save from Tom Heaton. Lewis Haldane had an effort from the edge of the area which was deflected and was squirming into the far corner, but for a superb reaction save from Heaton which saw him tip it round the post.
Dale made their first change of the game in the 59th minute when Gary Jones came on in midfield for Jason Kennedy who had been unusually quiet by his standards in the middle of the park.
It took a few minutes for Dale to set into the new personnel in midfield and Andy Haworth had a good chance for the home side in the 62nd minute, but his curling effort from the edge of the area flew past the Vale goal.
A second change for Dale was made a minute later when Rory McArdle came on for Tom Kennedy who may have picked up a knock. McArdle went to right back with Scott Wiseman coming over to left back.
With half an hour to go it was clear that Port Vale had taken a more defensive approach to the game and this allowed Dale to come forward and press more. Captain Gary Jones had an effort from the edge of the area which went close but rolled past Chris Martin's left post. Jason Taylor was the next to strike from range but his effort flew well over.
Neither side really managed to create much as the game entered the final twenty minutes, with Vale holding firm at the back and always looking to get the ball forward.
In the 78th minute Kallum Higginbotham came on for Andy Haworth on the left, whilst Danny Glover returned to Spotland and replaced Craig Davies for Vale.
Gary Jones was one man who was trying to drive Dale forward and he found himself in a promising position with ten minutes to go, but his shot was deflected wide and out for a corner.
With six minutes remaining Dale had the chance to win the game. Joe Thompson did superbly down the right before cutting the ball back to Chris Dagnall. He got a foot to the ball and fired it towards goal, but it struck the underside of the crossbar before bouncing back off the line and out. It was easily the best chance of the game for either side and would have set Dale on their way to another victory.
If there was going to be a winner from the game it looked like it would be Dale. Chris Dagnall had another chance with two minutes to go but Chris Martin was equal to it, saving with his legs as Dale looked desperately for a winner.
Four minutes of added time were signalled by the fourth official which spurred to home crowd on, but it was Vale who did the pressing in the early stages of that added time, as Tommy Fraser had a dipping effort over Tom Heaton's goal.
With the clock really ticking down Dale almost seemed to be trying too hard for an equaliser as they couldn't quite force an opener. Tommy Fraser had another effort for Vale late on but Tom Heaton held well.
That was the last action of the game as referee Pawson blew for full-time. It was slightly disappointing for Dale not to come away with all three points after some good pressure and taking recent results into account, but a point means Dale's lead at the top of League Two is extended to double figures.
Dale: Heaton, Wiseman, T Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, J Kennedy, Taylor, Haworth, Thompson, O'Grady, Dagnall.
Port Vale: Martin, Griffith, Richards, Fraser, Yates, Dodds, Collins, Owen, Davies, Taylor, Haldane.
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire). Assistant Referees: Adrian Holmes & Duncan Street (West Yorkshire). Fourth Official: Paul Hodskinson (Lancashire).
Attendance: 3,081.
