Match ends, Scunthorpe United 2, Rochdale 1.
ScunthorpeScunthorpe United2RochdaleRochdale1
Paddy Madden scored a late winner as Scunthorpe moved four points clear of the League One relegation zone with victory over Rochdale.
On-loan West Brom midfielder Liam O'Neil put the Iron ahead after the break when he found the bottom corner from Richard Brindley's pull-back.
Matty Done hit his 14th goal of the season to level for Rochdale.
But O'Neil then set up Madden, who fired in on the turn for his 11th goal of the season.
The victory makes it nine games unbeaten for Mark Robins' side, while Dale slipped out of the play-off places courtesy of Bradford's win at Fleetwood.
Scunthorpe United manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio Humberside:
"It was an ideal Christmas present. We were a little lacklustre in the first half, although having said that, I thought we bossed it.
"I thought we created one or two openings without being clinical but the work rate was there again.
"They worked their socks off. I said at half-time about a bit more urgency and a bit more quality and they delivered that."
Rochdale manager Keith Hill told BBC Radio Manchester:
"It was a very difficult task, but we made it more difficult for ourselves with the manner in which we conceded both goals.
"It was one of those games that just gets away from you sometimes.
"I couldn't argue and I won't argue too much with the result.
"The players need to show a little bit more 'man brain' instead of being kids. I'm expecting them to close the game out at 1-1."
Line-ups
Scunthorpe
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Slocombe
- 24Brindley
- 25Boyce
- 32Llera
- 30Williams
- 22O'NeilSubstituted forMcAllisterat 80'minutes
- 35Osbourne
- 9Madden
- 12Bishop
- 28McSheffreyBooked at 90mins
- 19TaylorSubstituted forAdelakunat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 4McAllister
- 6Canavan
- 14Hawkridge
- 16Adelakun
- 26Olejnik
- 29Wootton
- 37Davey
Rochdale
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Lillis
- 2Rafferty
- 29O'Connell
- 5Eastham
- 25Rose
- 3BennettSubstituted forNoble-Lazarusat 86'minutes
- 12Dawson
- 8LundSubstituted forCannonat 9'minutes
- 40Henderson
- 16DoneBooked at 87mins
- 19CywkaSubstituted forAndrewat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Andrew
- 11Noble-Lazarus
- 14Hery
- 21Musangu
- 24Allen
- 27Cannon
- 28Camps
- Referee:
- Tony Harrington
- Attendance:
- 4,004
Match Stats
Home TeamScunthorpeAway TeamRochdale
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home9
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Scunthorpe United 2, Rochdale 1.
Post update
Neal Bishop (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Cannon (Rochdale).
Booking
Gary McSheffrey (Scunthorpe United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Jack O'Connell (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Gary McSheffrey (Scunthorpe United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Miguel Angel Llera (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Post update
Gary McSheffrey (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Calvin Andrew (Rochdale).
Post update
Corner, Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Andrew Cannon.
Post update
Corner, Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Reuben Noble-Lazarus.
Substitution
Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Hakeeb Adelakun replaces Lyle Taylor.
Booking
Matt Done (Rochdale) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Marcus Williams (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Matt Done (Rochdale).
Post update
Attempt saved. Matt Done (Rochdale) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Reuben Noble-Lazarus replaces Rhys Bennett.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Andrew Boyce.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Marcus Williams.
