The Tractor Boys couldn't make it two wins in two over the Easter weekend as struggling Dale held onto a point in Greater Manchester.

Neither side provided attacking threat throughout the 90 minutes with no shots on target in the match. A draw looked to be a fair result. 

The Blues move up to eighth  position despite dropping points on Easter Monday as Rochdale remain bottom of the third tier.

  • Story of the match

Rochdale got the game underway at the Crown Oil Arena, they made one change from Friday as goalkeeper Jay Lynch came in for Gavin Bazunu. Ipswich Town also made one change as the injured James Norwood was replaced by Troy Parrott.

There were no clear cut chances throughout the first half as the game struggled to open up.  There were a couple of half chances for both sides but none enough to break the deadlock, Gwion Edwards put some inviting crosses into the Dale area but none were met by the Blues’ forwards. There was some good linkup play between the Kayden Jackson and Troy Parrott at the start of the game but neither could provide a clear cut chance.

Set-pieces were the biggest threat to the Ipswich goal in the first period; the hosts wide man Matt Done swung the ball into good areas from corners but the giant Tomas Holy met almost all of them. 

Alan Judge had the best chance before the interval on the 37th minute as he struck the ball just wide from 25 yards out following a decent spell from the away side. Both teams went into the break with little to build on at all. 

The game opened up in the 60th minute when Ipswich counter attacked from a misjudged header from Jake Beesley, Judge brought the play forward well but the attack broke down after a blocked shot from the midfielder. A minute later the visitors made a big penalty shout as Parrott was brought down inside the box, but the referee waved his finger and gave a Dale goal kick.

There was a great chance for the Blues’ substitute forward Oli Hawkins on the 75th minute as the ball fell to him seven yards out but it wouldn’t come down in time and Rochdale just about cleared it away. The first decent chance of the second half. 

Rochdale were on top towards the end of the second half as they created some decent half chances but couldn't test the Ipswich goalkeeper, missing the target with their efforts. 

The Tractor Boys came forward in stoppage time but Dale had plenty of men back to clear it away and hold onto what they may see as a decent point on their push for survival. 

  • Takeaways

Ipswich looked nowhere near a threat going forward throughout the 90 and deeply missed their clinical striker Norwood. It's two points they should not have dropped and this will have dented their play-off push massively, that is if it is still on. 

Rochdale looked decent defensively and Brian Barry-Murphy's new implemented 352 formation worked well as they controlled the ball in the middle of the park for the majority of the fixture. The host's set-pieces were dangerous and hard for the Blues to defend, they may be crucial if they are to pick up points towards the business end of the season. 

  • Player of the match

Oliver Rathbone stood out this afternoon and controlled the ball well in midfield and played Rochdale's only key pass throughout the fixture. He pounced on Ipswich mistakes and made a decent performance in a game that lacked stand out performances and match winners. 

  • Lineups

Rochdale

Lynch, Roberts, O'Connell, Osho, Keohane, Grant, Rathbone, Shaunessy, Done, Baah, Beesley. Substitutes: Newby (65), Dooley (65)

Ipswich Town

Holy, Woolfenden, Nsiala, Chambers, Edwards, Bishop, Dozzel, Ward, Judge, Jackson, Parrott. Substitutes: Dobra (72), Hawkins (72), Harrop (72), Drinan (80), Kenlock (85).