Match ends, Fleetwood Town 0, Rochdale 0.
FleetwoodFleetwood Town0RochdaleRochdale0
Fleetwood missed the chance to close the gap on the League Two automatic promotion places after they were held by leaders Rochdale.
The best chance of a tight first half fell to the hosts but top scorer Antoni Sarcevic fired over when well placed.
Rochdale began the second period strongly and only the post denied George Donnelly's overhead kick.
Iain Hume and Matty Blair saw efforts saved as Fleetwood chased a winner but the visitors held on.
The stalemate leaves Rochdale two points clear at the top of the table after Scunthorpe were held by Wycombe while Fleetwood remain fourth, five points behind Chesterfield who occupy the final automatic promotion spot.
The hosts started the game positively in the knowledge that a win would put them to within three points of the automatic promotion places.
The lively Sarcevic dragged an effort wide before he latched onto a David Ball cut-back only to blaze over when he should have scored.
Meanwhile, Dale threatened on the break with Peter Vincenti and Jamie Allen seeing efforts well saved.
With the two teams so evenly matched a moment of brilliance seemed to be required to split them and George Donnelly nearly provided it.
He latched onto an Ian Henderson knockdown but his overhead kick agonisingly bounced off the outside of the post.
That was the closest either team came as the two promotion-chasing sides were forced to settle for a point apiece.
Fleetwood manager Graham Alexander told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"It was a game we could have won and I think we should have. We're disappointed but it's a point gained.
"We have to take that sort of performance into the rest of the season. If we do that, we'll put ourselves into a great position."
Rochdale manager Keith Hill told BBC Radio Manchester:
"I'm really happy with a point and it keeps a nice cushion between ourselves and Fleetwood.
"Our goal difference is an extra point in my opinion.
"So, arguably, Burton or Fleetwood have to win four games, and we have to lost four out of the last six."
Line-ups
Fleetwood
Formation 4-4-2
- 28Maxwell
- 15McLaughlin
- 20Taylor
- 13Goodall
- 6Pond
- 5Roberts
- 17BlairSubstituted forEvansat 87'minutes
- 18SarcevicSubstituted forParkinat 72'minutes
- 23BallSubstituted forMattat 87'minutes
- 36Hume
- 24Morris
Substitutes
- 1Davies
- 4Murdoch
- 7Evans
- 8Schumacher
- 9Parkin
- 10Matt
- 25Jordan
Rochdale
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Lillis
- 2Rafferty
- 16Done
- 25RoseBooked at 31minsSubstituted forCavanaghat 74'minutes
- 6Lancashire
- 3Bennett
- 7Vincenti
- 12Lund
- 9DonnellySubstituted forBunneyat 70'minutes
- 24AllenSubstituted forKennedyat 87'minutes
- 40Henderson
Substitutes
- 4Cavanagh
- 5Eastham
- 8Kennedy
- 15Porter
- 21Thomson
- 29Cummins
- 39Bunney
- Referee:
- Michael Naylor
- Attendance:
- 4,261
Match Stats
Home TeamFleetwoodAway TeamRochdale
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Fleetwood Town 0, Rochdale 0.
Post update
Foul by Nathan Pond (Fleetwood Town).
Post update
Joe Bunney (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Matt Done.
Post update
Attempt saved. Rhys Bennett (Rochdale) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Charlie Taylor.
Substitution
Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Gareth Evans replaces Matty Blair.
Substitution
Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Jamille Matt replaces David Ball.
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Jason Kennedy replaces Jamie Allen.
Post update
Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Joseph Rafferty.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Conor McLaughlin.
Post update
Attempt missed. Matthew Lund (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Foul by David Ball (Fleetwood Town).
Post update
Joseph Rafferty (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Peter Cavanagh replaces Michael Rose.
Post update
Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Josh Lillis.
Post update
Attempt saved. Matty Blair (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Jon Parkin replaces Antoni Sarcevic.
Post update
Josh Morris (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
