Dale came from behind to pick up a memorable three points at Bradford City on Tuesday night.

Ian Henderson’s second-half brace overturned Abo Eisa’s first-half strike, as Jim Bentley’s men moved out of the League Two relegation zone.

Max Taylor came in for his first start of the season, with Cameron John and Ian Henderson returning to the starting line-up. James Ball and Scott Quigley dropped to the bench, with Sam Graham missing out altogether.

The torrential rain which had fallen in Bradford in the build-up to kick-off eased as the match got underway, but it left a heavy playing surface at the University of Bradford Stadium, with both sides taking time to adapt early on.

Dale created a couple of chances within a minute when Ethan Ebanks-Landell’s header from Danny Lloyd’s delivery was collected by Bradford goalkeeper Harry Lewis, before Liam Kelly fired well over from 20-yards.

The hosts took the lead with their first real effort on the Dale goal, when Eisa broke into the area and finished clinically beyond Richard O’Donnell.

The former Bantam stopper was called into action a couple more times before the break, comfortably holding Harry Chapman’s low shot before doing well to get down to Richie Smallwood’s dipping effort.

Henderson had two slight sights of goal before the break, sending a chip wide of Lewis’ goal after John’s ball over the top, before getting a head to Seriki’s cross and seeing the ball loop over the bar as he was clattered by the Bradford goalkeeper.

It was Dale who had the first chance of the second-half too, when Devante Rodney’s free-kick cannoned back off the inside of the near post, agonisingly falling clear of danger.

Alex Gilliead and Eisa both fired efforts off target for the hosts, before Dale had a golden chance to level, when Rodney was brought down inside the Bradford area.

He stepped up and saw his penalty saved, but Henderson was the quickest to react, getting to the rebound first to slot home.

Seven minutes later, Dale’s all-time leading goalscorer put Dale ahead.

Aidy White drove down the left and found Lloyd, whose cross got a flick on by Rodney at the near post. It fell for Henderson who turned home from close range, to send the travelling Dale fans wild.

At the other end, John put in a lung-busting effort to get back and poke a ball behind for a corner, which was destined for a Bradford forward to turn home.

Odoh, Ball, Toumani Diagouraga, Quigley and Jim McNulty all came on for Dale late on to try and see the game through.

Ball took a knock to the head that required stitches, meaning the five minutes added on became ten, but Dale’s goal was untroubled, allowing us to hold on for a memorable three points.

Dale XI | O’Donnell, Seriki, Taylor, Ebanks-Landell ©, John, White, Keohane, L Kelly, Lloyd, Rodney, Henderson.

Subs | B Kelly, McNulty, Ball, Odoh, Sinclair, Quigley, Diagouraga.