Match ends, Rochdale 1, Walsall 2.
RochdaleRochdale1WalsallWalsall2
Walsall maintained their unbeaten start to the season as second-half goals from Andy Taylor and Sam Mantom condemned Rochdale to a first defeat.
The Saddlers took the lead as a swift counter-attack saw Taylor volley home Milan Lalkovic's cross.
Mantom doubled the visitors' lead at Spotland as his deflected shot looped over goalkeeper Josh Lillis.
Dale claimed a consolation as Ian Henderson's header rattled the bar but Calvin Andrew netted from the rebound.
Walsall manager Dean Smith told BBC WM 95.6:
"It was a good game to watch and a great result because you know you've got a tough game when you come to Rochdale.
"They don't give you any respite and you have to work hard for everything you get here.
"We're showing a lot of character and resilience at the moment."
Line-ups
Rochdale
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Lillis
- 2RaffertyBooked at 55minsSubstituted forBunneyat 57'minutes
- 4McNulty
- 6Lancashire
- 33Kennedy
- 3Bennett
- 7VincentiSubstituted forAndrewat 69'minutes
- 12McDermott
- 24Allen
- 28CampsSubstituted forRoseat 53'minutes
- 40Henderson
Substitutes
- 5Eastham
- 9Andrew
- 10Alessandra
- 17Tanser
- 23Collis
- 25Rose
- 39Bunney
Walsall
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Etheridge
- 2Demetriou
- 4O'Connor
- 6Downing
- 3TaylorSubstituted forHenryat 74'minutes
- 7Chambers
- 18MorrisBooked at 85mins
- 8Mantom
- 17FlanaganSubstituted forFordeat 67'minutes
- 15LalkovicSubstituted forSawyersat 67'minutes
- 9Bradshaw
Substitutes
- 10Sawyers
- 11Baxendale
- 12Forde
- 13MacGillivray
- 14Henry
- 16Preston
- 21Cook
- Referee:
- David Webb
- Attendance:
- 2,381
Match Stats
Home TeamRochdaleAway TeamWalsall
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rochdale 1, Walsall 2.
Post update
Foul by Michael Rose (Rochdale).
Post update
Kieron Morris (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Paul Downing.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Anthony Forde (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Paul Downing.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Paul Downing.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Calvin Andrew (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Kieron Morris (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Michael Rose (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Kieron Morris (Walsall).
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 1, Walsall 2. Calvin Andrew (Rochdale) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Rico Henry replaces Andy Taylor because of an injury.
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 0, Walsall 2. Sam Mantom (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner.
Post update
Foul by Tom Kennedy (Rochdale).
Post update
Jason Demetriou (Walsall) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Tom Bradshaw (Walsall) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Calvin Andrew replaces Peter Vincenti.
Post update
Attempt saved. Donal McDermott (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
