Walsall 0 Rochdale 3 - Report and pictures
A lacklustre Walsall fell to their first defeat in eight games as Rochdale left the Banks's Stadium with a deserved 3-0 victory.
[gallery]
Two goals from Calvin Andrew following Ian Henderson's third minute opener saw a physical Dale side run out comfortable victors.
Sean O'Drsicoll's side entered the game looking to make it six straight victories in League One.
But in truth, the Saddlers were second best right from the first whistle with the new head coach tasting defeat for the first time since replacing Dean Smith.
In naming his starting XI, O'Driscoll made just one change from the team that secured a fifth straight league victory be beating Peterborough.
Switching to a 4-1-3-2 system, Anthony Forde was recalled at the expense of Sam Mantom with the Irishman lining up in midfield trio alongside George Evans and Romaine Sawyers.
Milan Lalkovic and Jordan Cook were paired up front.
On the subs bench was Rico Henry as well as star striker Tom Bradshaw who had recovered from the ankle injury picked up against Shrewsbury at the beginning of December.
For Keith Hill's Rochdale, in-form centre-forward Henderson started up front.
Determined to upset the form book, the visitors came flying out of the blocks and almost took the lead twice inside the opening minute.
A fine 25-yard strike from Henderson was spectacularly tipped over by goalkeeper Neil Etheridge after just 15 seconds.
And from the resultant corner, Andrew Cannon found space before hooking an angled drive that sailed inches past the upright.
Two minutes later though and Hill's side were ahead. Cannon did brilliantly to get the byline before sliding the ball across the box, with the delivery allowing Henderson a simply tap home.
The Saddlers seemed to be nursing a New Year's hangover, with Etheridge forced into another smart stop following Cannon's low drive from the edge of the box.
It wasn't until the 10th minute that Walsall finally hit second gear with Romaine Sawyers producing a magical turn in midfield before finding Lalkovic in the box.
But the former Chelsea man was crowded out before he could get his shot away. Slowly but surely, the Saddlers began to get a foothold on the game.
A lack of movement was hampering them going forward, though, with chances proving few and far between for both sides as the game hit the half hour mark.
Undeterred, O'Driscoll's side continued to press with fine play from Lalkovic and Forde eventually seeing Evans having a strike from the edge of the box well blocked.
With Rochdale pressing high and putting in a number of heavy challenges, tempers on the pitch were starting to become flared.
[related_posts title="More on Walsall"]
But a lot of Walsall's frustrations were of their own making, with options few and far between and Sawyers, Cook and Lalkovic forced to drop deep whenever O'Driscoll's side got on the ball.
It was the visitors who continued to look the more threatening for the remainder of the half, with Etheridge forced to race off his line and nip in to clear after a long ball almost played in Andrew.
Then, just before the break, Donal McDermott drove a cross-come-shot across goal which the keeper was forced to push behind for a corner.
O'Driscoll made his first change during the interval, Kieron Morris coming on for Cook as the Saddlers switched to a 4-1-4-1 system.
But it was the visitors who remained on top and they should have doubled their lead when McDermott hit a thunderbolt from eight-yards which flew wide.
Walsall were still struggling as the game approached the hour mark and, with star man Bradshaw waiting to come on, the Dale extended their lead.
A corner was met in the box by Andrew who expertly aimed his header into the far corner and beyond the outstretched arms of Etheridge.
As the away side celebrated, Bradshaw replaced Lalkovic. The change lifted the Saddlers who finally began to enjoy some possession in and around the Rochdale box.
[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text= "How did you rate the Walsall performance today?" button="Log in and start commenting"]
Yet it was visitors who still looked the more dangerous with Henderson latching on to an Andrews's flick-on and powering a strike which Etheridge beat away.
O'Driscoll responded with Henry replacing Andy Taylor. But, with just under 15 minutes remaining, Rochdale got the goal that put the game well and truly to bed.
McDermott galloped down the left and delivered a wonderful cross that Andrew swept home for his second of the game.
Despite being assured of the points, Hills side went in search of a fourth with McDermott dancing past everyone and crossing to Andrew whose strike produced a brilliant point blank save from Etheridge.
It was Henderson who reacted quickest to the loose ball with James O'Connor then producing an equally brilliant block to prevent the striker getting his 11th of the campaign.
The result means the Saddlers have dropped to third in League One with Burton now top following their win over Blackpool and Gillingham second after they overcame Bradford.
