Rochdale 1-0 Bristol Rovers: Rochale back to winning ways

Rochdale ended a five-game run without a win by beating Bristol Rovers 1-0 in Sky Bet League One.

The only goal of the game came seven minutes in from a move started by captain Ian Henderson, who earlier in the day had signed a new three-year deal.

Henderson set Brad Inman free down the left-hand channel and he drew Rovers keeper Adam Smith off his line before clipping a neat effort towards the net. The ball looked likely to find its target but Matt Done, racing in ahead of the opposition, made sure with the simplest of close-range finishes.

Rovers' growing influence in the game almost bore fruit on 29 minutes when a hashed clearance from Joe Rafferty dropped invitingly for Ollie Clarke and his volleyed effort from 18 yards only just cleared the crossbar.

After the break Clarke sliced wide when presented with an opening 10 yards from goal and the Dale goal led a charmed life in the 75th minute when Daniel Leadbitter's cross prompted confusion between Josh Lillis and Jim McNulty but the ball ran wide of the far post.