Magpies march on
Notts County made it three 1-0 wins from their three games under new boss Keith Curle with victory over lowly Rochdale at Spotland.
Hamza Bencherif's goal at the end of the first half divided the teams, though the Magpies were good value for the win as they created the better openings and denied the hosts a sniff of a chance.
The only blot on their copybook was the sending off of substitute Lee Hughes in the 90th minute for a studs-up challenge on Rochdale goalkeeper Peter Kurucz.
They edged ahead at the end of a low key first half when Bencherif met Julian Kelly's cross with a powerful downward header. It was no more than the visitors deserved, for they carried far more threat going forward than the hosts in the opening 45 minutes.
Alan Judge was close to an early opener after bursting through the hosts' rearguard in the opening minutes and the same player was frustrated later in the half when Dale defender Dean Holden blocked his goalbound effort.
Rochdale's only effort of note in the first half fell to Gary Jones. Nicky Adams picked out his run into the area but the delivery forced him wide and the skipper was unable to squeeze the ball beyond Magpies keeper Stuart Nelson.
Judge went close to a second when he ghosted between two Dale defenders and fired past Kurucz only to see his effort hit the foot of a post.
Rochdale 0-1 Notts County: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: PA
