Rochdale 2 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Report and pictures

Struggling and managerless Rochdale, fresh from sacking Keith Hill this week, put Sam Ricketts’ Shrewsbury to the sword as defenders Kgosi Ntlhe and Jimmy McNulty netted in each half.

Greg Docherty’s well-taken added time goal set up late, late hope for the visitors but, despite a stunning finale, there was nothing for Town to take back to Shropshire.

As Salop went full pelt in the final seconds sub Josh Laurent drew a stunning save from Andy Lonergan before fellow sub Stefan Payne cracked the bar and the ball was somehow hacked off the line before Shaun Whalley hit the side netting.

Town players dropped to the deck in agony as the staff held their heads. It was the final kick.

Shrews were not totally outplayed but they were soundly beaten in both penalty areas as woeful defending for both goals put them right in the mix of the relegation dogfight again.

The 2-1 reverse means Salop’s Spotland curse extends to 12 games without a win, stretching back 18 years and one month.

For all of their decent build-up, Ricketts’ team did not do enough to trouble a fragile Dale backline that have leaked goals all season.

Goalkeeper Andy Lonergan was in decent form when required but an end to Shrews’ recent revival and five matches unbeaten sees them drop three places to 20th on 40 points - just a point keeping them out the bottom four.

Town, with the worst away form in the division, at least know they have the long midweek trip to in-form Plymouth to get this concerning display out of their system.

ANALYSIS

Town fans were pleased to see a return of Docherty and Fejiri Okenabirhie to Ricketts’ starting line-up at Spotland.

Both sat out last weekend’s 0-0 stalemate against bottom side AFC Wimbledon.

Laurent and Aaron Amadi-Holloway made way to the bench, while Salop’s other changes was the inclusion of Omar Beckles for James Bolton, who had picked up an ankle injury in training and Ryan Haynes for Scott Golbourne.

Rochdale were beginning life after Hill, their long-term boss - sacked on Monday after a poor run of results.

The third-bottom strugglers had won just one game in 12 in all competitions. Coaches Brian Barry Murphy and Tony Ellis were in temporary charge.

Dale’s defensive woes have been their Achilles heel or season, having shipped 74 goals in 35 games ahead of kick-off - 14 more than any other League One side.

The hosts’ new coaching staff made four changes in an attempt to stem the tide at the back.

Ricketts was not deterred by the 11-match winless run in Rochdale, saying in the week he enjoyed breaking records and referencing the recent win at Peterborough.

The away fans were in superb voice in the game’s early stages. The few hundred Salopians were encouraged by an early foray down the right wing from Shaun Whalley, while Docherty sent a dipping effort from distance wide.

Town were largely scrappy for much of the first 10 minutes, leaving Ricketts demanding much more from the touchline.

There was little pattern to the play with plenty of high, long balls favouring the home side, but blustery conditions were not helping with accuracy.

Shrews looked sharp through Whalley on the right but did threaten the opposition box and instead it was the managerless hosts who stamped their mark on the afternoon.

South African defender Ntlhe almost caught Steve Arnold and mich of the stadium out with a dipping half-volley from the left side. Town’s goalkeeper backpeddled superbly to recover and tip behind.

But Shrews were extremely poor at dealing with the corner and paid the price. Bradden Inman’s low corner was missed by a Rochdale man and Town’s defenders and swept home by that man Ntlhe, who wasn’t to be denied.

Salod had been caught cold from a set-play - not for the first time this season - and needed to react.

They showed no signs of dropping their heads at the 15th-minute setback. Ollie Norburn was the busiest player on the park, pinching the ball and using it neatly. On several occasions Dave Edwards was looking for the smart early ball over the top to Town’s pacy forward duo.

Sharp interplay from Okenabirhie and Tyrese Campbell released the latter down the left, his accurate near-post cross was almost flicked in by his advancing strike partner in Shrews’ best move of the opening half hour.

Haynes curled well wide with his weaker left foot and Whalley drove wide from distance. Town were almost caught out from another corner as the powerful Ethan Ebanks-Landell fractionally missed a header but Arnold was fouled.

The heavens opened on Spotland half hour in as torrential rain turned into hail, leaving standing water on an already struggling surface that was cut up with mud and sand in parts.

Still it was the visitors who had seized the initiative and somehow neither Campbell, Edwards of Whalley could get anything on an Okenabirhie cross that flew across the six yard box. Town inches away.

Ricketts’ men were fortunate to not be made to pay for their lack of proficiency in front of goal.

With some eight minutes of the half left a long, low pass freed Ian Henderson on goal the wrong side of Luke Waterfall and the frontman tangled with Town’s defender before falling to the deck.

Spotland crowed for a red but the big defender was let off with a caution. The trouble wasn’t over. Callum Camps’ resulting free-kick was swerving and parried away by Arnold before Henderson somehow helped over from inside the six yard box.

Four late corners before the half-time whistle would not drop Town’s way, despite a couple of Waterfall headers, and a stunning Andy Lonergan save from Whalley’s free-kick as the visitors were frustrated.

Town were first out for the second period, a good few minutes before their hosts after some half-time words from Ricketts.

But Shrewsbury’s set-piece failings were their undoing again. A Joe Bunney free-kick from the left again found Ntlhe unmarked.

This time his effort was kept out low by Arnold but fellow defender McNulty showed how to do it from close-range, where he good barely miss.

Again Town weren’t put off their game and continued to link well in decent positions but were not stretching Lonergan as much as they’d like.

When they did test the former Wolves keeper he was on song. The shot-stopper made another fine save to keep out a Beckles’ header from Whalley’s free-kick before Campbell was denied from outside the box.

Ricketts’ first change, just ahead of the hour mark, was to bring on Amadi-Holloway for Okenabirhie.

Dale always looked a threat on the break but Town had the better possession and continued to probe but there was a lack of composure in the final third. As the game entered its final quarter it was clear Shrews were in it if they could find a foothold.

But time ebbed away as Ricketts shuffled his options for a second and third time, replacing the quiet Edwards with Laurent and Campbell with loan man Payne.

Rochdale were looking to kill the game as a content good and proper but, after getting the better of Docherty, Henderson’s low finish was saved by Arnold.

As Beckles headed at Lonergan late on it felt like Salop would never score but Docherty’s strike in the first minute of added time was well taken, with time left for a dramatic leveller.

And that nearly arrived with the last kick of the match. Thrilling drama as Laurent’s strike was somehow saved and Payne’s rebound somehow hits the bar before hovering the wrong side of the line and staying out.

Heads it hands and distraught bodies everywhere as the final whistle is blown.

KEY MOMENTS

15 - Goal Rochdale. Dipping volley from Kgosi Ntlhe is superbly tipped over by Steve Arnold. Town can’t deal with resulting corner and the defender sweeps home from near the penalty spot.

21 - Closest Town have come to an equaliser as Tyrese Campbell’s left-sided cross is flicked across goal by Fejiri Okenabirhie but it lands wide of the far post.

37 - Another big moment for the visitors. Another good move, this time it’s Okenabirhie near the left box and his cross misses a host of bodies and flashes across goal.

47 - Goal Rochdale. More poor defending from a set-piece as Joe Bunney’s low delivery again found Ntlhe unmarked. Arnold saved his effort but Jimmy McNulty converted the rebound.

90+1 - Goal! Greg Docherty fires in late low goal to give Town hope with time left. Whalley cross dummied by Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Josh Laurent.

90+5 - Can you believe it? Laurent shot saved, Stefan Payne hits the bar and it’s cleared off the line before Whalley hits side netting. When your luck is out...

TEAMS

Rochdale (3-5-2):

Lonergan; McNulty, Ebanks-Landell, Ntlhe; McLaughlin, MJ Williams, Camps, Bunney, Rathbone (Dooley, 74); Henderson ©, Inman (Andrew, 83).

Subs not used: Wade (gk), J Williams, Done, Adshead, Clough.

Shrewsbury Town (3-5-2):

Arnold; Williams, Waterfall, Beckles; Whalley, Norburn ©, Edwards (Laurent, 70), Haynes, Docherty; Okenabirhie (Amadi-Holloway, 59), Campbell (Payne, 71).

Subs not used: Charles-Cook (gk), Sadler, Golbourne, Sears.

Referee: John Brooks

Attendance: 3,217 (525 Town fans)

Position in the table: 20th (40 points from 36 games)

Star man: Shaun Whalley. Kept going up and down the right.