Hayden White’s first goal for Walsall downed struggling Rochdale to earn the Saddlers a fourth straight League Two home win.
The centre-half, who joined from Mansfield in September 2020, struck 10 minutes before the break
In a game delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic problems, after Rochdale’s coach got stuck on the M6, the visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock in a dull first half-hour. But Tyrese Sinclair’s goalbound half-volley from a Devante Rodney cross was deflected over by the covering White.
White then made the crucial impact at the other end on 35 minutes, slamming home his first goal in almost five years from close range after Tom Knowles’ long throw caused chaos in the Dale box.
Sinclair curled inches over from 18 yards early in the second half for Rochdale, while Knowles steered just wide from the edge of the area at the other end after being teed up by Liam Gordon.
Dale stepped up the pressure, but Liam Kelly sliced wide before James Ball spurned their best chance of rescuing a point in the 90th minute, prodding wide when unmarked in the box.
Report supplied by PA Media
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1EvansBooked at 19mins
- 2White
- 5Daniels
- 6Monthe
- 30BennettBooked at 82mins
- 8Kinsella
- 16MaddoxSubstituted forComleyat 75′minutes
- 3GordonSubstituted forAllenat 86′minutes
- 23Hutchinson
- 10KnowlesBooked at 81minsSubstituted forJames-Taylorat 86′minutes
- 39JohnsonSubstituted forWilliamsat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 11Williams
- 14Comley
- 15James-Taylor
- 20Cashman
- 21Allen
- 25Maher
- 26Clarke
Rochdale
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1O’Donnell
- 13Keohane
- 15Graham
- 6Ebanks-Landell
- 24John
- 7Kelly
- 20DiagouragaSubstituted forBrierleyat 67′minutes
- 10RodneyBooked at 19mins
- 8Ball
- 17SinclairSubstituted forOdohat 67′minutes
- 40Henderson
Substitutes
- 2Seriki
- 11Odoh
- 14Brierley
- 16Nelson
- 21Tulloch
- 27Malley
- 30Kelly
- Referee:
- Tom Nield
- Attendance:
- 5,050
Live Text
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Match ends, Walsall 1, Rochdale 0.
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Second Half ends, Walsall 1, Rochdale 0.
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Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Ethan Ebanks-Landell.
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Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Liam Kinsella.
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Attempt blocked. Jimmy Ball (Rochdale) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Devante Rodney (Rochdale) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ian Henderson.
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Cameron John (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Liam Kinsella (Walsall).
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Substitution, Walsall. Douglas James-Taylor replaces Tom Knowles.
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Substitution, Walsall. Taylor Allen replaces Liam Gordon because of an injury.
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Foul by Ian Henderson (Rochdale).
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Liam Kinsella (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Hayden White (Walsall).
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Attempt missed. Ethan Brierley (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Abraham Odoh.
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Liam Bennett (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
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Ian Henderson (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Liam Bennett (Walsall).
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Attempt missed. Andy Williams (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
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Tom Knowles (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
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Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Ethan Ebanks-Landell.
