Match report: Blackpool 0 Rochdale 0

Both sides had periods in the ascendancy but a point apiece was the right outcome.

It was the Seasiders who had the better of the first half, having the game’s two best chances to break the deadlock.

However, it was the visitors who were on the front foot for much of the second half but without converting that pressure into goals.

Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer had hinted at changes to his team following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers.

In the end there was only the one change with Sessi D’Almeida coming into midfield at the expense of Kelvin Mellor.

Rochdale began brightly, Oliver Rathbone tricking his way into space on the edge of the Blackpool area but seeing his shot blocked.

Sean Longstaff fired off target for Blackpool on 11 minutes, seconds before they should have taken the lead.

Rochdale defender Harrison McGahey lost possession, allowing D’Almeida to race into the area, only for his shot to be blocked by the onrushing keeper Josh Lillis.

That wasn’t the end of it, however, as the ball ricocheted back off Lillis, struck Dale defender Jim McNulty and rebounded narrowly wide of goal.

Nine minutes later and Bowyer’s players should have been in front for a second time.

Callum Cooke’s curling effort bounced just in front of Lillis and was turned behind by the keeper for a corner which Curtis Tilt headed over from close range.

At the other end, Bradden Inman managed to spin away from Ollie Turton before fashioning half a chance for Dale skipper Ian Henderson but his curling shot was easy for Ryan Allsop.

With neither side making any changes at half-time, it was the visitors who began the second half as brightly as they did the first with a corner inside 25 seconds.

That came to nothing though, as with the opening 45 minutes, it wasn’t due to a lack of effort from either side.

Both tried to play in the right manner but their attacking play continued to break down around the opposition’s 18-yard line.

Indeed the nearest either side got to a genuine chance in the opening 20 minutes of the second half was Donervon Daniels’ 20-yard effort that was blocked by the home defence.

Rathbone then had a shot deflected behind, Tilt headed away Joe Bunney’s cross from under his own bar and Bunney’s free-kick was comfortable for Allsop as the visitors pressed.

Longstaff fired over from 20 yards for Blackpool before the visitors saw Allsop acrobatically push away Henderson’s curler and substitute Steven Davies headed over.

Five minutes of added time saw Longstaff off target in attempting to catch out Lillis with a long-range free-kick, while the stretching Solomon-Otabor failed to test the keeper as honours ended even.

Blackpool: Allsop, Turton, Tilt, Robertson, Daniel, Ryan (Aimson 80), Solomon-Otabor, Longstaff, D’Almeida (Mellor 88), Cooke (Delfouneso 72), Vassell. Subs not used: B Williams, Taylor, Clayton, Quigley.

Rochdale: Lillis, Daniels, McGahey, McNulty, Bunney, Camps, MJ Williams, Rathbone (Davies 83) Jordan Williams (Andrew 58), Inman (Done 80), Henderson. Subs not used: Moore, Rafferty, Ntlhe, Slew.

Referee: David Webb.

Attendance: 3,399.