ROCHDALE 0, SWINDON TOWN 0
Rochdale manager Robbie Stockdale was disappointed his side failed to clip the wings of the high-flying Robins.
Stockdale was convinced Dale, still not completely free from the threat of relegation, ought to have been awarded two penalties for challenges on Corey O’Keeffe.
“I have seen them both again and one could have been given and the second should have been given,” he said.
Stockdale praised his side’s battling qualities as they picked up another valuable point which came after the important 2-0 home win against Carlisle four days earlier as they are now 10 points clear of the bottom two.
He continued: “The players left everything on the pitch and there were some very good individual performances.
“You want to play well every week, but that is not always possible.
“I cannot stress the importance of clean sheets as they have you a platform on which to build.”
Swindon Town manager Ben Garner was left to reflect on what might have been as his play-off chasing side was held.
Garner had no complaints other than his side’s failure to find the net as the Robins remain 10th but only two points adrift of the top seven.
He said: “It was just down to misfortune as I was pleased with our overall performance, the possession and number of chances created. It was down to a bit of lady luck and the ball not running for us in the final third.
“We had 62 per cent possession, 14 shots with seven on target which should have won the game.
“Sometimes you don’t get what you deserve. You are talking about fine margins. We deserved three points but will take one.
“We could have scored six goals in our last two games, but it is down to millimetres in some of the chances we have had.”
In the absence of injured 18-goal top scorer Harry McKirdy, Swindon lacked the cutting edge needed to pick up maximum points and an 11th away league victory – their total of 10 away-day wins is the best return of any club in the division.
Swindon had by far the better of the chances but were unable to beat home goalkeeper Jay Lynch who was named the home side’s player of the match.
In the opening half, Swindon’s most potent attacking threat was left back Joe Tomlinson.
The on-loan Peterborough United player had three clear-cut chances, two which brought important saves from Lynch.
Swindon also had the one clear-cut chance of a lacklustre second period when a header from substitute Mandela Egbo brought a flying save from Lynch who was named the sponsors’ man of the match.
It has been a good week for Rochdale who also beat Carlisle 2-0 on Tuesday for their first win in eight games as they are now 10 points clear of the relegation places.
Rochdale’s best chance came late in the opening half when striker Luke Charman’s header from a O’Keeffe corner flashed across the face of goal with Danny Cashman, sliding in at the far post, narrowly failing to connect.