Rochdale 1-0 Charlton Athletic: Addicks slip to defeat at Rochdale

Charlton slipped to a first defeat in three as Rochdale ran out 1-0 winners at Spotland.

Ian Henderson’s early goal proved to be the difference – although Lee Bowyer’s side were left to rue a missed penalty from Lyle Taylor, his second failure from the spot of the season.

The South Londoners also hit the woodwork twice and had a goal ruled out for offside but struggled to get going at times as the Dale won for just the second time in eight league games.

Joseph Rafferty had already tested Jed Steer in the Addicks goal from long-range, before the hosts edged into a fourth minute lead.

Stephen Dooley had skipped down the Dale right-hand-side, squaring for captain Henderson to sweep home from inside the area.

It was the second time in three seasons that Charlton had fell behind to a goal in the first five minutes at Spotland, but they nearly drew level immediately as Taylor rattled the crossbar from with a drive from 20 yards after Jamie Ward set him away.

Ward, going in search of his first goal for the South Londoners, was next to have a pop, dragging wide after a tidy Addicks move.

Bowyer’s side were lucky not to fall further behind as Bradden Inman cut in and skewed a shot just the wrong side of the near-post – and then the Addicks missed a huge chance to get onto level terms.

Darren Pratley was bundled over by home goalkeeper Brendan Moore, but the stopper atoned for his misdemeanour when he dived to his right to keep Taylor’s penalty at bay.

Keith Hill’s side nearly went further ahead, with Jordan Williams and goal-scorer Henderson denied by last-ditch blocks from Steer and Pratley in quick succession.

Pratley had another shout for a penalty waved away after appearing to be tripped in the area on the stroke of half-time – but the Addicks returned to the dressing room behind.

Bielik made way for Ben Reeves at the break, and Charlton had another good chance to draw level early in the second-period. Josh Cullen floated a set-piece into the Dale box, but Jason Pearce was unable to direct his header at the target after wriggling free six yards out.

Bowyer threw Tariqe Fosu into the action on the hour-mark as he looked to find a way back into the contest, with Ward making way.

Home keeper Moore produced more heroics as he tipped Josh Cullen’s rising drive onto the post, and then was given a let-off as the West Ham loanee’s free-kick squirmed through him and into the net, only for the offside flag to be raised on the near-side.

Steer kept Charlton in it with just over a quarter of an hour to go, reacting well as an unmarked Inman headed at goal from close-range.

Joe Aribo was the next to come close to finding a leveller for Charlton after cutting in but his left-footed curler was headed over the bar for a corner.

The Addicks were unable to find a way through though, despite Igor Vetokele seeing a header drop just wide in added-time, but Dale held on to record just their second home league win of the campaign.