Our last five matches against Rochdale...
2015/16 SEASON18th August 2015 – Rochdale 1-2 Walsall – League One
Two goals in six second-half minutes from Andy Taylor and Sam Mantom earned Walsall a third consecutive away win in all competitions. The Saddlers took a 65th-minute lead when Taylor volleyed home Milan Lalkovic’s cross after a swift counter-attack. Mantom’s deflected strike made it 2-0 and although Rochdale’s Calvin Andrew pulled a goal back, Walsall stood firm to record a hard-fought victory.
Saddlers team: Etheridge, Demetriou, Taylor (Henry 74’), O’Connor, Downing, Chambers, Mantom, Lalkovic (Sawyers 67’), Flanagan (Forde 67’), Morris, Bradshaw.
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Preston, Baxendale, Cook.
2014/15 SEASON
10th February 2015 – Walsall 3-2 Rochdale – League One
The Saddlers survived a second-half fightback from play-off rivals Rochdale to edge a five-goal thriller. Walsall raced into a 3-0 lead inside 22 minutes, courtesy of James O’Connor’s header, Anthony Forde’s long-range strike and Jordy Hiwula’s sweeping finish. But Rochdale rallied after the break, with goals from Peter Vincenti and Ashley Eastham setting up a tense finale, but Walsall held on.
Saddlers team: O’Donnell, Purkiss, Taylor, O’Connor, Downing, Chambers, Sawyers, Cain (Preston 89’), Forde (Baxendale 45’), Cook (Henry 71’), Hiwula.
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Flanagan, Grimes, Murphy.
7th October 2014 – Rochdale 0-1 Walsall – JPT
Mathieu Manset scored the only goal as Walsall saw off Rochdale to reach the JPT third round. Dale started brightly, with Ian Henderson crashing a 25-yard free-kick against the bar. The Saddlers went ahead midway through the first-half, Manset latching on to Ashley Grimes’ through pass before finishing confidently. Rochdale had chances to draw level, with Grimes clearing Matt Done’s header off the line and visiting custodian Richard O’Donnell denying Henderson and Peter Vincenti.
Saddlers team: O’Donnell, Purkiss, Taylor, Downing, Benning, J Chambers, Clifford (Flanagan 87’), A Chambers, Baxendale, Grimes (Forde 84’), Manset (Cook 73’).
Subs not used: MacGillivray, O’Connor.
16th September 2014 – Rochdale 4-0 Walsall – League One
Below-par Walsall crashed to a heavy defeat against newly-promoted Rochdale at Spotland. Matt Done gave Dale a fifth-minute lead and Ashley Eastham’s header doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark. Ian Henderson extended Rochdale’s advantage before the break and a second-half own goal from Andy Butler compounded Walsall’s misery.
Saddlers team: O’Donnell, Taylor, O’Connor, Downing, Benning, Clifford (Morris 62’), Butler, Sawyers, Flanagan, Forde (Baxendale 83’), Manset (Grimes 89’).
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Holden, Kinsella, Bakayoko.
2011/12 SEASON
31st March 2012 - Rochdale 3-3 Walsall – League One
Andy Butler’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued Walsall a point from a dramatic encounter. The Saddlers led 2-0 at half-time through Emmanuel Ledesma’s 25-yarder and Joe Widdowson’s own goal. Rochdale fought back, with a Jean Louis Akpa Akpro brace and a Michael Symes penalty putting Dale 3-2 ahead. But Butler headed home a 94th-minute leveller to earn Walsall a draw and send the visiting contingent into raptures.
Saddlers team: Grof, Westlake (Paterson 84’), Sadler, Butler, Smith, Hurst, Cuvelier, Mantom, Ledesma (Taundry 79’), Nicholls, Bowerman (Grigg 74’).
Subs not used: Walker, Lancashire.