Rochdale claimed a point from their opening home game of the 2021/22 camopaign, following an goalless draw with Scunthorpe United at the Crown Oil Arena.
There were full debuts for George Broadbent, Sam Graham and Danny Cashman, who were named in the starting eleven, while Josh Andrews, who joined the club on loan from Birmingham City on Monday, started on the bench. Eoghan O’Connell returned to the team after recovering from the achilles problem that kept him sidelined for the opening day fixture at Harrogate Town, as Manager Robbie Stockdale made five changes to the side that started against Town last weekend.
Dale enjoyed plenty of possession during the opening exchanges as they started the half brightly, on a day when supporters and staff came together on three minutes in a ‘Clap for Cloughie’ to remember David Clough’s legacy.
Early on, Cashman sent an effort over from Matty Done’s free-kick, while Beesley, on the turn, had a shot held at the near post by Rory Watson in the Scunthorpe United goal.
Dale had dominated for large spells, and the best chance of the half so far came in the 20th minute, when Beesley got a diving header on an inviting Done delivery, glancing it across the face of goal and inches wide at the far post.
Shortly after the half hour, the Iron had a rare sight on goal but Lewis Thompson’s effort was well-held by Jay Lynch.
Dale should have been ahead with 41 minutes on the clock but were denied by Watson. A ball in from the right fell centrally for Cashman, whose low goal-ward bound shot was superbly kept out by the ‘keeper.
Before the half was out, Tom Pugh fired a half volley well-wide, while Harry Davis also stuck well-wide, both without troubling Lynch.
HT | ROCHDALE 0-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED
Done saw an effort from 25-yards dip over the bar shortly after the interval, before Lynch, up the other end, came to claim Davis’ flick on from a long Pugh throw while under pressure, and Alfie Beestin fired well-wide from 25-yards.
Although the Iron were improved after the break, Rochdale looked comfortable, limiting opportunities for the visitors, and, again, dominated for large spells.
Dale’s first substitution came in the 65th minute, when Cashman made way for Abraham Odoh. He was involved immediately with great work to set up Newby, whose shot was blocked.
He then curled an effort over from 20-yards.
A second changed followed eight minutes from time, with Stephen Dooley replacing Sam Graham.
As the game approached four minutes of added time, Broadbent turned an Odoh delivery wide, after he had the difficult task of controlling the cross from the left with his midriff.
In stoppage time, Corey O'Keeffe put a great block in on Mason O'Malley's shot inside the area, before Dale race down the other end on the counter-attack and Done fired over from outside the area.
FT | ROCHDALE 0-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED