Rochdale 2 Hull City 1

Last updated : 29 April 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Hull City lost to Rochdale after producing a dismal first-half display in which they were second best throughout.

The Tigers were battered and bullied by a virile Rochdale side who should have scored more than the two they got from Lee McEvilly and on-loan Darren Hockenhull in the opening 18 minutes.

McEvilly's 20-yard shot was a gem and Hockenhull added a second after being sent clear by Stephen Hill.

Rochdale missed half a dozen good chances in the first half and the main culprit was Paul Connor.

If Rochdale had scored six by half time it would have been a fair representation of events. But as it was they nearly had cause to rue their profligacy as Hull came out after the interval a transformed team.

Lively Ben Burgess gave the Dale defence a harrowing time and headed a goal on 64 minutes to bring Hull back into the game.

The Tigers had plenty of chances to rescue a point but Burgess, Jon Walters and Martin Reeves all should have done better when well placed.

Their main problem was Dale's second-string keeper Matthew Gilks who made several good saves but he nearly came unstuck when his clearance hit a Hull forward and nearly ended in a goal. Happily for him and for Rochdale he recovered in time.

On balance Rochdale well deserved their three points and the only disappointment for the home crowd was that they did not rub salt into Hull's wounds after the interval.

Better finishing by Hull in the second half could have earned them a point but they were as wasteful as Rochdale had been before the break and they were up against a goalkeeper who was having the night of his life.