Rochdale 1-2 Sheffield United

Sheffield United gave their bid for a play-off place a significant boost with a narrow win at mid-table Rochdale.

Marc McNulty opened the scoring for the Blades in the first half with a fine, curling effort.

John Brayford doubled their lead after the break when his shot squirmed past Rochdale's Josh Lillis, before Jack O'Connell's header halved the deficit.

Rochdale searched for an equaliser, but Nigel Clough's men held on for a fourth win in their last five league games.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Rochdale

• 1Lillis
• 2Rafferty
• 5Eastham
• 22O'Connell
• 33Kennedy
• 14Héry
• 25Rose
• 26LoganSubstituted forNoble-Lazarusat 31'minutes
• 7VincentiSubstituted forBennettat 68'minutes
• 40Henderson
• 10BrandySubstituted forBellat 55'minutes

Substitutes

• 3Bennett
• 11Noble-Lazarus
• 17Tanser
• 21Musangu
• 24Allen
• 31Bell
• 39Bunney

Sheff Utd

• 24Turner
• 5Brayford
• 27Kennedy
• 19McEveley
• 3Harris
• 6Basham
• 8Doyle
• 7FlynnSubstituted forFreemanat 71'minutes
• 18CouttsSubstituted forReedat 83'minutes
• 9MurphyBooked at 44mins
• 12McNultySubstituted forDoneat 45'minutes

Substitutes

• 13Willis
• 14Done
• 16Davies
• 22Reed
• 26Freeman
• 29Adams
• 36Calvert-Lewin

Referee:

Tony Harrington

Attendance:

3,574

Match Stats

Home TeamRochdaleAway TeamSheff Utd

Possession

Home53%

Away47%

Shots

Home7

Away4

Shots on Target

Home4

Away2

Corners

Home2

Away4

Fouls

Home13

Away14

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Rochdale 1, Sheffield United 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Rochdale 1, Sheffield United 2.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Rhys Bennett (Rochdale).

Posted at 90'+3'

Chris Basham (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Jack O'Connell (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Matt Done (Sheffield United).

Posted at 88'

Foul by Michael Rose (Rochdale).

Posted at 88'

Kieron Freeman (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 87'

Tom Kennedy (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Kieron Freeman (Sheffield United).

Posted at 85'

Foul by Nyal Bell (Rochdale).

Posted at 85'

Jamie Murphy (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 83'

Substitution, Sheffield United. Louis Reed replaces Paul Coutts.

Posted at 78'

Attempt saved. Nyal Bell (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 77'

Ashley Eastham (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Robert Harris (Sheffield United).

Posted at 75'

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jack O'Connell.

Goal!

Posted at 74'

Goal! Rochdale 1, Sheffield United 2. Jack O'Connell (Rochdale) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Ian Henderson.

Posted at 74'

Attempt blocked. Bastien Héry (Rochdale) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Jay McEveley.

Posted at 72'

Bastien Héry (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Chris Basham (Sheffield United).

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Sheffield United. Kieron Freeman replaces Ryan Flynn.

Substitution

Posted at 68'

Substitution, Rochdale. Rhys Bennett replaces Peter Vincenti.

Posted at 68'

Attempt missed. Paul Coutts (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Posted at 67'

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Tom Kennedy.

Posted at 66'

Peter Vincenti (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Michael Doyle (Sheffield United).

Posted at 66'

Hand ball by Michael Rose (Rochdale).

Goal!

Posted at 61'

Goal! Rochdale 0, Sheffield United 2. John Brayford (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Michael Doyle.

Posted at 57'

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Joseph Rafferty.

Substitution

Posted at 55'

Substitution, Rochdale. Nyal Bell replaces Febian Brandy.

Posted at 53'

Attempt saved. Michael Rose (Rochdale) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 53'

Febian Brandy (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 53'

Foul by Robert Harris (Sheffield United).

Posted at 52'

Attempt missed. Reuben Noble-Lazarus (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.

Posted at 48'

Foul by Peter Vincenti (Rochdale).

Posted at 48'

Robert Harris (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 47'

Jack O'Connell (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 47'

Foul by Matt Done (Sheffield United).

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