Rochdale picked up a valuable point on the road on Saturday, after a goalless draw with Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium.
There were five changes from last weekend’s match against Bristol Rovers. Niall Canavan and Andy Cannon came into the back four, while Jamie Allen, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Joe Thompson also returned to the starting eleven. Calvin Andrew, who wore a protective mask, was named on the bench.
Dale caused problems early on down the left side, as Mark Kitching fired a couple of long range efforts at goal after breaking forward from full-back, the first of which was well held by Alex Cairns as he flew to his right.
And Keith Hill’s side had the majority of possession, with the Gaffer vocal in his instruction from his technical area to pass quickly.
Fleetwood’s attack was speared by Ashley Hunter and former Dale loanee David Ball, who looked to break behind the Dale defence with their pace. Hunter latched on to a through ball successfully on the half hour mark, but Ben Wilson was equal to the effort and collected at the second attempt with his only save of the half.
Mendez-Laing was a threat to the hosts with his pace and forced a number of Dale corners, one of which was cleared only as far as Ollie Rathbone on the edge of the area. He took a touch to set himself before volleying over the crossbar on the turn.
Calvin Andrew replaced Thompson at the break, sporting a protective mask after picking up a depression fracture of the cheekbone against Huddersfield Town.
The first chance of the second half fell to Fleetwood, when a poor header back was pounced upon by Ball. He broke into the area but sent his effort wide from 12 yards out.
Bobby Grant and Hunter both sent efforts well wide, before Andrew fired well over after finding space on the corner of the visitor’s 18 yard box.
Mendez-Laing was replaced by Callum Camps just after the hour mark, shortly before Henderson had a golden chance to break the deadlock.
A ball over the top wasn’t dealt with by a Fleetwood defender and was latched on to by Henderson. With the goalkeeper well off his line, he attempted to loft the ball over him, which dropped just wide of the post.
Rathbone sent a low effort just wide of the far post after a neat turn on the left edge of the area, before he was replaced by Jack Redshaw with four minutes of time remaining.
Fleetwood substitute Wes Burns curled an effort well off target as both sides went forward in search of a win, but couldn’t carve out a clear opportunity to find the winner.