Dale shock Leeds
Rochdale registered one of the shocks of the FA Cup third round as they sent Championship Leeds crashing out of the competition with a 2-0 win at Spotland.
Goals towards the end of each half from Scott Hogan and Ian Henderson secured the home side a place in the fourth round and Brian McDermott's team could have few complaints after a poor performance.
Some 44 places divided the teams in the Football League at the start of play, but it quickly became evident that gulf would not be reflected on the pitch.
Joe Bunney's emphatic finish in the seventh minute may have been ruled offside, but it set the tone for the game, with the home side keeping their Championship visitors on the back foot.
Leeds were not entirely without threat in the first half and came into the game when Matt Smith rose above the home defence to guide Danny Pugh's cross goalward with Matt Lund clearing his firm header off the line.
But it was Rochdale who were asking most questions and when they broke upfield in the 16th minute, Peter Vincenti sent Hogan through on goal. Paddy Kenny narrowed the angle and blocked the striker's shot with his feet before Lee Peltier denied Henderson the chance to seize on the loose ball.
And as the first half drew to a close Rochdale looked to press home their dominance and Henderson's edge-of-the-area drive was kept out by Kenny again.
But there was no denying the hosts the goal they deserved and in time added on at the end of the first half Hogan drifted between Marius Zaliukas and Jason Pearce to meet Vincenti's cross and send a looping header over Kenny and into the net for his 11th goal of the season.
Leeds were brighter at the start of the second half with skipper Rudolph Austin curling a shot inches wide of Lillis' post and Smith's header being hacked off the line by Rochdale striker Bunney.
Despite half chances for Ross McCormack and Pugh, Rochdale continued to look the team more likely to score the game's second goal.
Vincenti spurned a glorious chance to double their advantage in the 77th minute when Hogan teed him up 10 yards out. Hogan himself went close minutes later with a cleverly improvised toe-poke towards goal which Kenny was relieved to see that run wide. The goalkeeper then kept Leeds in the tie with a superb save to keep out Vincenti's effort.
The result was wrapped up in the 83rd minute when substitute Graham Cummins picked out Henderson and he sent a measured volley into the top corner of Kenny's goal.
Henderson was close to doubling his personal tally minutes later when he crashed a 25-yard shot on target but Kenny pushed his shot over the bar to save the visitors further embarrassment.
Source: PA
