Rochdale secured a valuable point at home to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, following a spirited performance against the in-form Pilgrims. The spoils were shared following a goalless draw.
There were two changes to the side that lined-up against Blackpool midweek, as Paul McShane, Jimmy Keohane and Kwadwo Baah came in for Jimmy McNulty, Matty Done and Matthew Lund who was named on the bench having suffered from illness during Tuesday game and in the lead up to the game.
Gavin Bazunu pulled of big save after just three minutes, when he kept out Plymouth’s only clear-cut chance of the half, denying Tyrese Fornah’s point-blank header.
Nine minutes later he held Danny Mayor’s dangerous ball in from the left at his near post.
Byron Moore fired over from the edge of the area, before Niall Ennis turned and hit over, also from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Luke Jephcott struck straight at Bazunu a short time later, while Panutche Camara could only steer an effort wide of the target at the back post, from a dangerous ball in from the right that went all the way across the face of goal.
And a brave Bazunu came flying out to the edge of his area to deny Moore as he raced to get on the end of a ball forward.
Stephen Humphrys managed to get a shot away under pressure after being played in by Alex Newby, but the effort went wide of the far post.
Soon after, Captain Eoghan O’Connell had a header held by Mike Cooper after he’d met one of Conor Shaughnessy’s long throws in the box.
Before the half was out, Bazunu held a Conor Grant free-kick and turned behind a Mayor shot/cross at his near post.
After a resolute first half from Dale, the sides went in level at the break.
HT | ROCHDALE 0-0 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
There was one change for the start of the second half as Ryan McLaughlin replaced Gabriel Osho.
Rochdale started were on the front foot immediately after the break and had a couple of early chances.
Humphrys had a shot saved after being played in on goal by an Aaron Morley free-kick, while the ‘keeper held a Shaugnessy effort from the edge of the area.
On the hour, Ennis stung the palms of Bazunu with a snapshot from the edge of the box with their first effort of the second half.
Shaughnessy struck wide soon after, in the last of his action, being replaced by Lund in Dale’s second change of the match.
On 70 minutes, a fine Cooper save kept out a stunning Morley strike from 25-yards, after Rochdale had hit Plymouth on the break. Kwadwo Baah got up the left at speed before sending the ball out to Jimmy Keohane, who played in Morley, resulting in the midfielder’s fizzing effort behind tipped over the bar.
Lund’s introduction was cut-short, as he was forced off through injury 12 minutes later after receiving treatment for a collision, being replaced by Matty Done.
Still Dale continued to trouble the visitors, as Humphrys saw a deflected shot held held, before Done had an effort from range also kept out by Cooper.
And as Rochdale continued on the ascendancy there were shouts for a handball following a Baah cross into the area, but the penalty claims were quickly waved away.
In stoppage time, Baah made way for Conor Grant, in Dale’s fourth and final change.
Right at the death, Morley put a dangerous free-kick into the box which dropped for Keohane to get a shot away. It took a deflection and Humphrys turned it over the bar.
FT | ROCHDALE 0-0 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE