Rochdale 1
Dawson 64

Argyle 1
Wright-Phillips 17

ARGYLE'S long trip north reaped just one point in a terrific match at Spotland that could have easily swung in favour of either side.

The Greens repelled Rochdale for much of the first-half and fully deserved the half-time lead given to them by an instinctive finish from Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Missed chances immediately after the break then cost the Pilgrims dear as Rochdale turned the screw to beyond breaking point. Craig Dawson grabbed the equaliser Dale pressure warranted and both teams had opportunities in a topsy-turvy final half-hour.

It was an engrossing game that the Greens possibly just shaded but 1-1 was a final outcome that was difficult to contest.

Peter Reid's response to Tuesday's 2-0 humbling at home to Brighton was a reshuffle at both ends of his team. Bondz N'Gala returned from suspension to replace Krisztian Timar at the heart of defence, with the Hungarian bumped out of the squad altogether.

Steve MacLean was recalled for his first start since the opening home draw with Carlisle United. Rory Patterson was the man relegated to the bench at the club where his professional career began, leaving Wright-Phillips to partner MacLean. The only other change was a tactical switch on the left side that saw Onismor Bhasera pushed into an advanced role, allowiing Jim Paterson to operate at full-back.

There was a welcome return to the Argyle squad for Yala Bolasie, who was cruelly ruled out of the first six weeks of the season by ankle and knee problems picked up in a friendly at Saltash just days before the campaign began.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill, a Pilgrim for four seasons of his playing career, stuck with the same starting 11 that were only denied an excellent win at MK Dons last weekend by an equaliser from Mathias Doumbe, another former Green. The one change on the bench saw new loan striker from Oldham, Dean Smalley, replace Reece Gray.

After winning promotion in the spring, the Spotland club have impressed with their strong start to the League 1 season that has seen their attractive style of football rewarded with a place among the early pace-setters.

The opening exchanges of this game provided immediate evidence of the patient passing game Hill clearly favours, with skipper Gary Jones instrumental in the midfield engine room. When Rochdale did breach Argyle's midfield screen, Anthony Elding thundered in a shot that deflected wide off the back of Paterson.

Argyle's attacking intent followed the familiar pattern of Craig Noone piling in from the right to disrupt, and it was a brave header from the sprightly winger that fell to MacLean in the box, but, with his back to goal, the Scot could only scoop his shot into an easy punching area for home 'keeper, Josh Lillis.

The Greens maintained the initiative, however, and a fabulous first-time cross by Paterson found the head of Johnson, who had stayed forward from the previous attack, but Lillis was again comfortable.

Lillis painted a far more stressed figure just a minute later when a long throw from Kari Arnason caused confusion in the Rochdale back-line. The goalkeeper came scrambling off his line but Johnson was first to the loose ball and his low cross/shot was pounced on expertly by Wright-Phillips for the first goal that so often proves crucial when the Pilgrims are involved. It was a genuine poachers goal from a man who looks determined to become the answer to Argyle's goal-scoring problems of recent times.

Inevitably, Jones was the catalyst for Rochdale's fightback. After another careful build-up, the home striker unleashed a long-range effort that had Romain Larrieu momentarily concerned before the Frenchman skidded on his knees to guide the ball wide of his near-post.

In the face of growing Rochdale pressure, Johnson was imperious in the air and composed on the ground. The challenge for the inexperienced Beninian was to maintain that form for a full 90 minutes.

Noone relieved the Green strain with a delightful ball into the box that MacLean attempted to bring down on his chest but he slipped at the vital moment. In hindsight, an instant header at goal seemed the better option.

Argyle's tenacity was winning the battle and Arnason almost surprised Lillis with a dipping effort from 30 yards that had the home 'keeper rapidly adjusting his feet.

The Icelandic international was involved again two minutes later, exchanges passes with Paterson on the left before drifting over a cross for Johnson, who attacked the ball brilliantly but crashed his meaty header over the bar.

A fine first-half for the Greens ended with two Noone corners again disrupting Rochdale's panicky defence. Only a brave block from Dawson could deflect MacLean's goal-bound volley on the turn and more last-ditch defending denied N'Gala from the second delivery.

The Pilgrims started the second period in similar fashion, constructing a beautiful move from right to left that started with Marcel Seip and ended with Bhasera's delightful low cross skipping through the corridor of uncertainty, and only a dodgy final bounce denied Wright-Phillips a tap-in for his second of the day.

Argyle's dominance of proceedings was further highlighted by Bhasera's confidence in unloading a 35-yard screamer that more than warmed the hands of the uncertain Lillis.

Reid's main concern must have been the potential price of so many missed chances, and a neat ball inside from Jason Kennedy opened the space for Jones to fire in a powerful drive from the right channel that Larrieu could only beat clear with his fists.

Argyle's first change came just after the hour-mark, Patterson replacing the spent MacLean. Although his performance lacked a huge goal-threat, the Scot was instrumental in a lot of the good things the Greens produced and his constant running prevented the home side from developing the rhythm that is crucial to their game.

Patterson barely had time to get his studs green before Dawson lashed home an equaliser. A fine cross from Kennedy was not dealt with by the Pilgrims and the centre-back showed excellent poise in sweeping a powerful shot into Larrieu's bottom left-hand corner.

Rochdale were now in the ascendancy and Kennedy was released in the left channel. Larrieu swiftly closed the angle and a combination of Johnson and N'Gala did well to clear the eventual cross in front of an exposed goal. Reid had seen enough and Bolasie was introduced for Bhasera in a desperate bid to reclaim the impetus from a now-rampant Rochdale.

Chris O'Grady was the next to threaten Larrieu's beleagured goal, skipping past Seip before swerving a sweet left-footer inches wide of the far post.

After 20 minutes of almost incessant pressure, the tide began to turn back in Argyle's favour and Noone had a curling drive deflected wide by a Dale head. From the subsequent corner, Lillis dived down low to his left to smother N'Gala's header.

Within a minute, Wright-Phillips picked the pocket of Josh Thompson down by the corner flag and he galloped into the empty space before slamming a shot into the chest of a rapidly advancing Lillis.

Argyle's next attack came from a weaving run by Arnason, who fed Seip for a ball in the box to Patterson and his instant lay-off was scooped toward the far corner by Wright-Phillips, only for Dawson to deflect the effort wide.

Noone once again displayed the heading prowess that sealed a memorable win over Sheffield Wednesday last weeked, looping a fine effort on to the Dale bar in the final act of a gripping encounter.

Rochdale (4-4-2): 1 Josh Lillis; 18 Josh Thompson, 4 Marcus Holness, 26 Craig Dawson, 3 Joe Widdowson; 16 Andrew Tutte (15 Joe Thompson 55), 8 Gary Jones (capt), 6 Brian Barry-Murphy, 7 Jason Kennedy; 19 Chris O'Grady, 9 Anthony Elding (17 Dean Smalley 62). Substitutes (not used): 11 Matt Done, 12 Alan Goodall, 14 Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, 28 Matt Flynn, 31 Ryan Jones (gk).

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Romain Larrieu; 30 Marcel Seip, 3 Bondz N'Gala, 5 Reda Johnson, 29 Jim Paterson (34 Lee Molyneux 74); 17 Craig Noone, 4 Carl Fletcher (capt), 11 Kari Arnason, 15 Onismor Bhasera (19 Yala Bolasie 69); 9 Steve MacLean (8 Rory Patterson 62), 10 Bradley Wright-Phillips. Substitutes (not used): 16 Joe Mason, 18 Jack Stephens, 33 Ollie Chenoweth (gk), 36 Dean Parrett.

Booked: Noone 70

Referee: Peter Quinn

Attendance: 3,294 (436 away).