It's a lovely sunny Sunday at the Rubberdome (we share our stewards with Derby who played at home yesterday) and the visit of Rochdale to look forward to. It seems like we are always playing one of the teams who are doing well at the moment (with the exception of Macclesfield who we totally failed to finish off the way we should have done).
Rochdale are themselves flying high this season. Which must be pretty exciting for the "Dale" fans - in that they have never been outside of the bottom two divisions and are one of those clubs who were once saved season after season by the old election system of promotion / relegation to the football league.
Despite this apparent lack of any real success, they maintain a strong and committed fan base and we are expecting a few to turn up today. The Beech Inn is heaving with large Dale fans (there must be something in the water up there - malt, hops and yeast I expect) and it feels like we are the away fans as we sit clutching our plastic "glasses" of Pedigree. Some people are allowed real glass but apparently I look like the kind of person who would, without much provocation, be likely to smash it into your face.
We are one-nil up after 3 minutes, Richard Walker's shot taking a slight deflection after good build-up play by Greg Pearson. The Brewers look confident and assured against a very good Rochdale side. Good but a bit "cheaty". We are not talking dirty Accy Stan territory here. Just lots of shirt pulling, diving, holding - the sort of thing any decent referee would spot instantly and deal with quickly to stamp it out of the game. Unfortunately, decent referees are about as common as fossilised rabbits in the Pre-Cambrian geological strata. This lot are resplendent in bright pink which is only momentarily entertaining until they show such utter cowardice in the face of overwhelming evidence of Rochdale's "cheaty-ness".
Despite this, they are a good side and for the rest of the game they pummel Burton's defence at every opportunity. Guy "The Beast" Branston is unbeatable today though. Nothing gets past him, his distribution is excellent, his tackles well-timed and his heading powerful and accurate. The only time he is beaten for pace, Ryan Austin powers-in from the right and clears into Row Z.
There is a recall as well for wonderkid Jimmy Phillips who torments the Rochdale right back all through the first half and they have to kick him a few times to quieten him down. They do this in full view of the referee. In fact, they send a letter, signed and in triplicate to the referee and his assistants, detailing in 6 inch font and capital letters that they are just about to foul him, right now, just in front of you. Then get it announced over the PA and transmitted to the little earpieces they wear these days to "communicate" with each other. Then they shine a spotlight onto the pitch and a big Pythonesque hand appears pointing at Jimmy P saying "this one here" just before kicking his ankles. The ref pauses, thinks, ruminates, scratches his arse and gives the freekick THE OTHER WAY!
Still, you've got to respect them eh?
The mighty Brewers hold on, Branno gets a more than deserved man of the match and it's another 3 points in the bag.
On Tuesday, I will be popping down to Coleshill Town for the Birmingham Senior Cup game. You wouldn't want to miss that blog, shirley?
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