The match
Typical pre-season conditions at Spotland for this afternoon’s friendly against Steve Parkin’s Rochdale. The large bunch of travelling City supporters are in the stand opposite basking in the blazing sunshine.
And City, sporting their blaze yellow third kit, will be looking to build on the match fitness gained in Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Wrexham.
It was a lively opening few minutes with both sides looking busy and with just four minutes on the clock Rochdale took the lead. It was a low cross in from the left by Christie which gave Rickie Lambert the simple task of tapping home.
A pulled muscle to put paid to Rochdale skipper, Mark Jackson’s day after only six minutes, Boardman replacing the Dale captain.
City’s first attempt came with a shot from Samaras on eight minutes but he could only drag it wide from 20-yards out.
But it was to get worse for City on 12 minutes. A slip by Hamann gave Rundle the ball about 30-yards from goal, his quick run and shot was well saved by Weaver but it could only run into the path of Gary Brown who drove the ball past the keeper and made it 2-0.
By the 20 minute mark Pearce’s men seemed to have woken up and had fashioned a few promising openings with Georgios Samaras looking the most likely for City.
Dale were forced into another change on 29 minutes Nathan Stanton making way for Joe Thompson.
Eight minutes before the break, City created a chance that their growing pressure had deserved. Joey Barton’s clever effort receieved a touch on the way past the post and out for a corner. The Blues had become increasingly aware of the fact they were 2-0 down....but more the fact that a possible Pearce ear bashing was only minutes away.
That could be tempered somewhat as on 43 minutes City got a goal back. Good work from Hamann and Stephen Ireland gave Georgios Samaras the chance to curl the ball beyond Gilks and low into the bottom corner.
HALF TIME: Dale 2-1 City
Two City changes at the break and one more for Rochdale. Schmeichel and Danny Mills on for Weaver and Matt Mills, with the Dale change seeing Edje on for Goodall.
A flowing City move on 52 minutes saw Lee Croft drill the ball into the crowd after fantastic chest control from Antoine Sibierski had released Samaras.
City were beginning to turn the screw and an equaliser seemed the most likely outcome. As a response Dale threw on Chris Dagnall in place of Rickie Lambert.
As the Blues pressed again their reward was just to be around the corner. Lee Croft was felled in the box only following a clumsy tackle. Joey Barton to step up and score after 60 minutes.
Cue the subs and on came Miller and Paul Dickov to rapturous applause...and it was to get even better for Dickov. His first touch saw him put City in the lead for the first time in the game on 64 minutes. Ishmael Miller was taken down after a heavy challenge from Ramsden and Dickov just managed to squeeze the ball under Gilks.
Another raft of substitutions followed on 77 minutes and amongst them Daniel Sturridge came on. With his first meaningful touches he picked the ball up and hammered a low shot wide from all of 30-yards, drawing the excited “oooo’s” from the boisterous City faithful.
