COVENTRY CITY 2-2 ROCHDALE AFC
City: Jones, Willis, Martin, Webster, Johnston (Haynes 46) Fleck, O'Brien, Finch, Samuel, Odelusi (Jackson 75), Nouble. Subs: Burge, C.Thomas, Barton, Tudgay, G.Thomas.
Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty (Nouble-Lazarus 46), Bennett (Andrew 26). Eastham, Lancashire, Vincent, Dawson, Tansier, Allen, Camps (Rose 82) Henderson. Subs: Diba-Musunga. Brandy, Logan, Bunney.
HT CCFC 2-1 RAFC
FT CCFC 2-2 RAFC
ATT 7,606
Scorers Dominic Samuel 24, Callum Camps 32, Samni Odelusi 38, Calvin Andrew 65
Referee A.Woolmer
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The debutants were a breath of fresh air but Coventry City are still looking for a first home win since October after a 2-2 draw against Rochdale.
After another week where City's owners have given the impression that they are more interested in court cases than running a football club, it was back to the Theatre Of Gloom or the Ricoh Arena where City have won just three times since moving back, to see the Sky Blues face Rochdale, making their first appearance in Coventry for a league game since the 1925\26 season.
In their five point plan, City had said they wanted to address the imbalance between loan and permanent signings but went and signed two more players in Dominic Samuel from Reading and Samni Odelusi from Bolton on emergency loans.
Both players were named in a starting side for the Sky Blues on a bitterly cold afternoon after the overnight snow and rain had passed.
The crowd, which included City supporters from Northern and Southern Ireland, again was sparse at kick off time with many only at the game as they had already paid to get in. Those present saw Odelusi have a shot on target in the opening seconds, something which has been in short supply in recent matches.
Rochdale in yellow shirts and black shorts, started to have the better of the play with a couple of free kicks but City's defence with Jordan Willis solid again. cleared.
In the tenth minute. Odelusi beat a man, played it to the left and ran in and sent the header just wide of the South Stand goal.
Dale had a harshly awarded free kick which led to a corner that Odelusi who had conceded the free-kick cleared.
In the 20th minute, Jordan Willis showed some great persistence to cross for Odelusi to head wide before the Sisu Out chants from under the scoreboard started.
Four minutes later and City were in front when O'Brien attacked and Lillis came out to block. The ball came loose and there was Dominic Samuel to score from the edge of the area.
Dale replaced the injured Rhys Bennett with Calvin Andrew before City won a 27th minute corner which only resulted in a free kick for some pushing.
However, in the 32nd minute, Callum Camps, the number 28 for Rochdale, got in a low shot from twenty five yards which beat Jamie Jones who had been shouting at his defence, on his left and went into the net.
Parity was only restored for six minutes as Samni Odelusi crowned his debut with a great run and finish to put City back in front.
As three extra minutes were being announced, Samuel put in a lovely cross which just missed Frank Nouble.
Both sides made changes at the break with Ryan Haynes replacing a sluggish Reda Johnson. Rochdale won a 49th minute corner and then another and another in the 54th minute.
With Jim O'Brien working hard behind the forwards, Frank Nouble had a 58th minute shot pushed around for a corner. O'Brien took the kick which ended up back up at the feet of Jones and Ian Henderson dispossessed Haynes and raced through only to fire wide on the hour mark. A minute later, Andrew was booked for a challenge that had some of the support calling for a red card.
In the 65th minute, Dawson hit a shot which Jones palmed over for a corner and there was Calvin Andrew to score and get Rochdale back in the match at 2-2.
The visitors had another corner and had Henderson booked for stopping O'Brien storming down the left.
Against a team who had repeatedly showed they were a threat from corners, Steven Pressley who is now without the odious Darren Murray, failed to organise his troops to deal with this threat from corners or the threat of being able to run from midfield.
Samuel curled over in the 72nd minute and Jones made a good save as did Lillis from Jackson who had just come on.
Jones made a great save in the 77th minute from a header before Dale won yet another corner.
Samuel went down but there was no penalty, only a booking for Fleck who had talked himself into a caution when a free kick for Rochdale who had broken was given.
Jackson won City an 84th minute corner. Arron Martin got in a great header but Lillis dived low to his left to save.
Vicenti joined the list of cautions along with Nouble as the game ended in a draw, meaning that the wait of City supporters to see a home league win now extends to three months and City's record of never beating Rochdale at home in a league match continues.