ROCHDALE AFC 1-0 COVENTRY CITY
City: Allsop, Willis, Pugh, Webster (Tudgay 75) Thomas (Swanson 46), Fleck (Finch 46), O'Brien, Jackson, Nouble, Clarke, Hines. Subs: Burge, Miller, Phillips, Haynes,
Rochdale: Logan, Rafferty (Bennett 76), Eastham, Vincent, Dawson, Hery (Bunney 58), Done (Bell 89) Allen, O'Connoll, Henderson, Tanser. Subs:Lancashire, Musangu, Rose, Kennedy.
HT RAFC 1-0 CCFC
FT RAFC 1-0 CCFC
ATT. 3587
Goals Ian Henderson pen 28
Referee P.Gibbs
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Coventry City's run of no wins at Spotland continued with a sorry 1-0 loss against Rochdale.
A grey morning saw a trip up the M6 to Rochdale and a Scotland Stadium which had previously brought nothing but embarrassing defeats.
Just like supporting the Sky Blues, Rochdale fans are made of stern stuff to support a side which has spent the vast majority of its existence in the lower reaches of the Football League and there was plenty of socialising before both sets of supporters made their way into the ground.
The City support stood in the Willbutts Stand which included supporters from as far away as Kent and London, as well as a lot of our Northern based support, saw a City side which won three out of the last matches immediately before a home game against Preston North End, take to the field with Seb Hines and Danny Pugh starting.
The City support were in fine voice as Coventry in all white, got the game underway, attacking the goal to the right of us.
On a ground, where one of the floodlight's doubled as a mobile phone mast and on a pitch in great condition, Vincent tried to land an ninth minute punch on Conor Thomas, which seemed to irk the City midfielder but was missed by the referee.
City playing the ball through Danny Pugh, had chances blocked either side of an eleventh minute corner for the home side.
In the 20th minute, Jordan Clarke headed on for Simeon Jackson who did well to create space and fire over, as the City support abused one rather portly individual stood behind the goal.
Rochdale went up the other end and had Hery fire wide before Scott Tanser cleared a Nouble counter attack.
Nouble drove over with a 26th minute with a shot on turn as the sun started to come out.
In the 28th minute, Ryan Allsop brought down Hery and was booked. Referee Mr Gibbs from Birmingham awarded a penalty and Ian Henderson stroked the ball into the net with ease to put City a goal down.
Jackson wasted a good chance in the 33rd minute before the Sky Blues won a free kick eight minutes later which landed in the hands of Conrad Logan in the Dale goal.
After some of the City support which included one dressed in a Wolves top for a dare, had a soaking at half time from a sprinkler, the Sky Blues took to the pitch, with Danny Swanson and Jack Finch coming on for Thomas and Fleck.
Jim O'Brien sent a twenty yarder not far wide and this was followed by a corner which saw City get the ball in the net but a free kick to Rochdale.
As the rain came down , Dale won a corner and the ball fell to the unmarked Jack O'Connoll who thumped Allsop's post.
Rochdale boss Brian Hill took off Hery ,who had been a threat and saw his side force City to clear off the line after the referee had allowed Joe Bunney, who had replaced Hery, to handle the ball and then run to the byline and send a 63rd minute ball across the goal.
The City support had been pretty supportive but it was clear that frustrations were creeping in amongst the City support at some of the City defending which was coming from allowing Rochdale too much of the ball.
A 69th minute free kick ended up in the arms of Logan via a soft header and the City support started calling for Ryan Haynes to come on.
Andy Webster did well to make a clearance under pressure but was later cautioned for a foul in the centre circle.
Rafferty was also booked before Steven Pressley made his last change bringing on Marcus Tudgay for the last fifteen minutes in place of Webster.
Keith Hill did the same, taking off a booked defender but he replaced him with another defender as the home side sort to preserve their lead.
In the 79th minute, Tudgay only had the keeper to beat but Logan blocked him and Swanson had an 88th minute shot beaten away for a lacklustre City side who had only forced Logan into one real save all afternoon.
The City support did their best to encourage the team but yet again, their support was not rewarded with that first away win of this season .