Rochdale 0 - 0 Coventry City

Joe Cole makes his debut in stalemate at Spotland



Joe Cole’s debut lasted just short of an hour as Coventry City slugged out a goalless but thoroughly absorbing draw.

But the man of the moment was young keeper Reice Charles-Cook who helped secure the point with his fifth consecutive clean-sheet – four of them in the League.

Cole’s debut was recorded by a packed press box and what we can safely assume will be the biggest pack of photographers to visit Spotland this season.

The former England man’s fitness levels were examined in a harum-scarum opening with Rochdale setting the pace as they did in their early-season Capital One Cup encounter.

He given little time on the ball by the Dale defenders but he worked hard and looked more than happy to cope with the physical stuff. Some of his passing carried the stamp of quality and he got himself into two good scoring positions, the first rustily miscued, the second sliding narrowly wide.

There was certainly no doubt about his commitment and Tony Mowbray will be hoping for a more productive contribution once he can get into the training routine at Ryton.

The home side produced the first genuine chance – Dale fans optimistically appealing for a penalty as Martin blocked Allen’s angled shot – but the Sky Blues then carved out three excellent opportunities in the space of five minutes.

Lillis sprinted to the edge of his area to block Armstrong when a superb O’Brien ball gave the Newcastle teenager the sort of opening he has been gobbling up this season.

Seconds later Armstrong cleared the bar with a first-time 20-yarder before Cole fluffed his dream-script lines, completely miscuing a left-foot shot from Fortune’s knock-down.

Charles-Cook fielded long-range digs from Lund and Camps as Dale continued to match the Sky Blues for quickfire passing and they squandered the clearest chance to date in the 34th minute as Andrew headed through but McDermott – scorer of a wonder-goal back in August – volleyed fractionally wide of the far post.

Cole then threatened again, collecting Armstrong’s pass and leaving Lancashire for dead before drilling a yard wide of the post. And Lillis produced another sharp intervention just before the break, blocking Fortune’s shot when Morris pumped back a half-cleared corner.

City were straight out of the traps for the second half, Armstrong’s shot charged down, before both sides passed up prime chances, Tanser pulling his shot wide before Armstrong was again denied by Lillis when O’Brien tees him up.

Dale substitute Bunney made an instant impact, volleying wide with his first touch before forcing a fine save from Charles-Cook. And Kent, on for Cole, didn’t take long to demonstrate his pace although he couldn’t find the finish to match Vincelot’s precision pass as Lillis blocked with his legs.

Murphy, replacing Armstrong for the final 20 minutes, combined cleverly with Tudgay but was crowded out as he homed in on goal and the alert Lillis then sprinted 20 yards out of his area to kick clear as the Norwich man chased Vincelot’s through-ball.

Dale passed up another clear chance six minutes from time, skipper Allen shanking wide from eight yards with Charles-Cook hopelessly exposed. And the goalkeeper again justified his No.1 status seconds from the end of normal time as he spread himself to block substitute Mendez-Laing.

Attendance: 2,495