Barry-Murphy: Rochdale got what we deserved with late equaliser

Posted Sunday, February 09, 2020 by PA

Rochdale boss Brian Barry-Murphy felt his side got exactly what they deserved after rescuing a point at Doncaster.

Jon Taylor gave the hosts the lead inside the first minute only for Rochdale to go on to have the better of the play.

They finally grabbed an equaliser nine minutes from time through Oliver Rathbone, and Barry-Murphy believes they got their just desserts.

“How early the goal went in came as a slight surprise, but we were in control for long periods of the game against an outstanding opponent,” he said.

“It took all of our skills to get back in the game and our lads responded in the best way possible.

“They put loads into the game in terms of enthusiasm and effort and we got what we deserved. We were on the front foot for most of the game and I don’t want to take that ambition out of the team.

“We haven’t had many draws this season and I don’t think that’s a bad thing because I want us to be positive.”

Barry-Murphy praised goalscorer Rathbone, who capped a strong performance by grabbing the equaliser with a smart run and finish from 25 yards.

“He’s someone who will score lots of goals in his career,” Barry-Murphy said.

“He has had lots of chances this season and he gets in those areas of the pitch where he’s at his most dangerous and we know he’s capable of scoring from.”

Doncaster boss Darren Moore labelled it two points dropped for his side.

Moore bemoaned a failure to make the fast start count and felt Doncaster had enough chances to have put the game to bed.

He said: “We started the game very well, went a goal up really early and the game just seemed to peter out from there.

“It was a good footballing match today between two teams that want to play football, two teams that want to dominate the ball.

“Being the home team, we didn’t go on and capitalise on the early goal. We shocked Rochdale early on with the goal but we didn’t capitalise and take the game by the scruff of the neck.

“We hit the post and missed a rebound and the game petered out before it picked itself up again towards the end.”

Moore, who also felt his side should have had a late penalty after Brad Halliday was dragged down, added: “We’ll look on it as two points dropped because we had enough chances to win the game, to get the second goal but we didn’t do it – all for not getting the final touch on the ball.

“Rochdale had two shots on target and scored a goal out of it so we’re disappointed.”