Rochdale 2-0 Carlisle United: Blues revival checked with defeat at Spotland

A Liam Kelly penalty and a late Conor Grant goal earned the home side a 2-0 victory as the Blues dropped points for just the second time in eight games under Simpson.

United had their chances - especially in the first half when Jack Armer missed a great opportunity - but in truth did not create enough despite strong second half pressure.

They remain 18th in League Two, 12 points above the relegation zone, following this rearranged game at the Crown Oil Arena.

Kelly put Dale ahead in th tenth minute after Corey Whelan was adjudged to have fouled Stephen Dooley, before Grant sealed Dale's first win in eight in the 81st minute.

United boss Simpson resisted the temptation to freshen up his team after Saturday's hard-working win over Bristol Rovers.

Liam Kelly's penalty beats Mark Howard

He named an unchanged XI, with stand-in captain Whelan fit to continue despite being substituted in the second half against Rovers.

Rochdale boss Robbie Stockdale, meanwhile, made four changes in a bid to halt their three-game losing streak.

In came Grant, Jimmy Keohane, Liam Kelly and Danny Cashman, with Matt Done, George Broadbent and Alex Newby dropping to the bench and Paul Downing out of the squad.

And it was the hosts who made much the brighter start, while United were hit by a fifth-minute booking to Dynel Simeu for a foul on Cashman.

Rochdale's early passing and movement was bright and gave Carlisle plenty of problems, Luke Charman dipping a shot over the bar.

Jordan Gibson makes a run

And they then got in front via the penalty spot.

After Charman had harried Whelan in the left hand corner, Jeriel Dorsett played a measured pass to Dooley and his jinking run drew a sliding challenge from Whelan whih was penalised by ref James Oldham.

Kelly stepped up and fired the spot-kick confidently past Mark Howard.

Rochdale remained on the front foot with Cashman seeing a shot deflect wide, before Omari Patrick, from a Brennan Dickenson free-kick and Simeu header, nodded United's first chance over the bar.

The Blues were below their best and rather leggy, but still blew a great chance to level on 25 minutes, when Joe Riley crossed after a one-two with Patrick and found Armer in acres at the back post.

Jack Armer rues his miss

The wing-back, though, pulled his shot wide, and though United improved as the half went on, struggled to create anything else bar a late Patrick shot which was too straight to trouble keeper Jay Lynch.

Carlisle applied more pressure early in the second half in front of their 501 travelling fans, and had a goal chalked off on 59 minutes when Dennis jumped with keeper Lynch and was penalised for a foul as the ball dropped into the net.

Simpson then made a double change, Tobi Sho-Silva and Danny Devine replacing Dennis and Whelan, with Gibson warming Lynch's gloves with a powerful shot from 20 yards.

Stockdale then made his first substitution, Abraham Odoh replacing Cashman, while Dickenson saw a low cross just evade United team-mates in the box.

Howard shows his disappointment after Grant made it 2-0 to the hosts

Tyrese Omotoye then came on for Armer as Simpson, his side now dominating play, sought an equaliser.

Dickenson tested the home defence further, but Carlisle were then finished off on 81 minutes when O'Keeffe fed Grant and he drove through the right side of United's defence to fire high past Howard.

Carlisle looked for a way back but were left with too much to do as they suffered only their second defeat since Simpson's return.

Rochdale: Lynch, O’Keeffe, O’Connell (McNulty 88), Dorsett, Clark, Dooley, Keohane, Cashman, Kelly (Broadbent 83), Grant, Cashman. Not used: Wade, Newby, Done, Odoh, Andrews.

Goals: Kelly 10pen, Grant 81.

Booked: Lynch.

United: Howard, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish, Armer (Omotoye 76), Riley, Whelan (Devine 60), Dickenson, Gibson, Patrick, Dennis (Sho-Silva 60). Not used: Norman, Mellor, McDonald, Alessandra.

Booked: Simeu, Devine, Dickenson.

Ref: James Oldham.

Crowd: 2,160 (501 United fans).