Match ends, Rochdale 4, Crawley Town 1.
RochdaleRochdale4CrawleyCrawley Town1
Ian Henderson scored twice as Rochdale made it three successive wins in 2015 with victory against Crawley.
Scott Tanser volleyed Rochdale ahead before Henderson poked in from a tight angle to make it 2-0 before the break.
Lanre Oyebanjo fouled Matt Done, who saw his spot-kick saved by Lewis Price.
Crawley pulled one back through Marvin Elliott but Henderson slotted home his second before Calvin Andrew got the fourth when the ball cannoned into the net from his charge down.
Rochdale move into the League One play-off places while Crawley have now gone 11 league games without a win.
Rochdale assistant manager Chris Beech told BBC Radio Manchester:
"We did score four goals at Crawley away but that meant nothing because that was just an excellent elite performance for Rochdale that day.
"That's Dean Saunders' first defeat - he's had two really good draws so we knew that they'd be fighting."
Crawley Town interim manager Dean Saunders told BBC Surrey:
"You look at the scoreline and it looks like we've been battered but it didn't tell the true story.
"We've had three great chances at 2-1 and we could've got away with a draw. Izale McLeod, Matt Harrold and Marvin Elliott all missed an open goal.
"We might have gone on and won the game, daftly enough. At least the players didn't cave in.
"I've got a bit of work to do. I've got another week's training with the players and we'll only get better.
"The squad is really thin so I've probably got to bring two or three more players in."
Line-ups
Rochdale
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Lillis
- 2Rafferty
- 5Eastham
- 6Lancashire
- 17Tanser
- 12Dawson
- 3Bennett
- 28CampsSubstituted forAllenat 87'minutes
- 7VincentiSubstituted forAndrewat 31'minutes
- 16DoneSubstituted forNoble-Lazarusat 89'minutes
- 40Henderson
Substitutes
- 9Andrew
- 10Brandy
- 11Noble-Lazarus
- 21Musangu
- 24Allen
- 25Rose
- 26Logan
Crawley
Formation 4-4-2
- 30Price
- 2Oyebanjo
- 12Walsh
- 25Ward
- 3Dickson
- 8SmithSubstituted forHarroldat 83'minutes
- 26Wordsworth
- 33Elliott
- 7EdwardsSubstituted forYoungat 55'minutes
- 9McLeod
- 21TomlinBooked at 7minsSubstituted forBawlingat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Bradley
- 14Young
- 15Banya
- 17Anderson
- 18Harrold
- 20Bawling
- 27De Lima
- Referee:
- Trevor Kettle
- Attendance:
- 2,255
Match Stats
Home TeamRochdaleAway TeamCrawley
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away2
- Corners
- Home7
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rochdale 4, Crawley Town 1.
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 4, Crawley Town 1. Calvin Andrew (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Young (Crawley Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Ashley Eastham (Rochdale).
Post update
Anthony Wordsworth (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Rhys Bennett (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Izale McLeod (Crawley Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Reuben Noble-Lazarus replaces Matt Done.
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 3, Crawley Town 1. Ian Henderson (Rochdale) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Matt Done.
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Jamie Allen replaces Callum Camps.
Post update
Attempt missed. Joe Walsh (Crawley Town) left footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Joseph Rafferty.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Matt Harrold replaces Jimmy Smith.
Post update
Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Rhys Bennett.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Matt Done (Rochdale) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Lewis Young.
Post update
Stephen Dawson (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Jimmy Smith (Crawley Town).
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 2, Crawley Town 1. Marvin Elliott (Crawley Town) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Izale McLeod.
