Errors costly in derby clash

COMING THROUGH . . . Aidan White is checked as he attempts to make a run.

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Athletic 1, Rochdale 2

INDIVIDUAL mistakes amid a pleasing overall performance cost Athletic dear in a pulsating derby.

The first home defeat of the season was rough justice on Paul Dickov’s men.

But after a loss at Hartlepool two days earlier which also featured defensive frailties, lessons will clearly have to be learned if talk of reaching the play-offs in npower League One is to be rendered anything other than a flight of fancy.

Dickov’s side were pushing hard for an opening goal when captain Reuben Hazell’s error of judgement in charging into the back of Craig Dawson — outstanding in repelling wave after wave of attacking pressure from Athletic — resulted in a penalty just after the hour at Boundary Park.

Dean Brill does not escape some of the blame, as the goalkeeper should have caught the ball in the build-up rather than offering a punch that failed to relieve the danger.

Rochdale skipper Gary Jones smacked the spot-kick against the post, but the ball fell into the path of Chris O’Grady.

And, quite typically for a player up against a former club, he belted home the rebound to leave Keith Hill’s side in pole position.

Another error from Hazell, this time producing a weak back pass, let in O’Grady for his second to tie up the contest.

Dale defender Scott Wiseman was shown a harsh red card in the 85th minute.

And though Dean Furman halved the deficit with a sweet volley as the clock ticked down, even the most intense pressure on the Dale goal could not bring about an equaliser.

Brill did his level best to make amends with a header from a corner after advancing upfield, but after rising highest his attempt cleared the crossbar by a couple of feet.

Cedric Evina came into the starting line-up as a left-back after impressing on the wing as a substitute at Hartlepool, with Paul Black dropping to the bench in Dickov’s only change to the side beaten 4-2 at Victoria Park.

The first half was a fairly even affair with Athletic starting to look more threatening as the minutes ticked on.

Jean-Yves Mvoto was carried off the field with an ankle injury in the 20th minute after landing awkwardly, allowing Neal Trotman to come on for his first appearance sine joining on loan from Preston.

Shortly after the forced substitution, Dale Stephens rifled a shot narrowly wide after Chris Taylor’s cross was blocked — possibly by a stray hand.

Dale midfielder Jason Kennedy headed over when well-positioned from a good Joe Thompson cross, but most of the enterprise was coming from the home team.

Rochdale defended brilliantly throughout and centre-back Dawson made one of a number of vital blocks as Furman pulled the trigger inside the penalty area.

Brill flapped at a deflected shot, O’Grady almost embarrassing the ’keeper with a header which trickled three yards off-target, while at the other end Athletic almost went into half-time a goal up but for Kieran Lee’s cross being a small fraction too high for either Stephens or Oumare Tounkara to convert.

Athletic started the second half where they left off in the first.

Felipe Morais — playing wide on the right, with Aidan White on the left — belted a 20-yard effort which forced Dale ’keeper Josh Lillis into a hurried tip over.

Hazell also went close with a far-post header he could not quite direct as the home side continued to press.

A double substitution by Rochdale helped their cause, introducing Nicky Adams and Matty Done into the fray.

And minutes later — out of the blue as far as the balance of play was concerned — controversial referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty for Hazell’s indiscretion.

Brill tipped a header from Dawson over the crossbar and at the other end a big shout for handball in the area was met with a shake of the head from referee Taylor.

With 20 minutes to go, Trotman was pushed up front as Dickov looked to take advantage of his aerial prowess.

But O’Grady’s well-taken second of the afternoon was not part of the plan.

Wiseman’s chronic bad luck to see red aided Athletic’s cause and when Furman volleyed home sweetly it gave Athletic hope. A glut of corners and crosses arrived, but none paid dividends, leaving Athletic disappointed and their opponents cock-a-hoop.