Salford and Rochdale played out a stalemate at the Peninsula Stadium in the first league meeting between the two sides.
Gary Bowyer’s men dominated the first half against a lacklustre Dale side, with Joel Coleman denying Brandon Thomas-Asante with a smart stop after the ball fell to him on the edge of the box.
Conor McAleny was also presented with two excellent opportunities to score but inexplicably missed the target with his first effort, before firing straight at Coleman when found by Ibou Touray in the box.
Former Rochdale man Matty Lund also came close to haunting his old side but his curled effort from outside of the box flew over the bar.
Robbie Stockdale’s men were improved after the break and played with much more urgency, with Jimmy Keohane denied by Conor Ripley after some excellent build-up play involving Liam Kelly and Abraham Odoh, who was superb throughout.
Ripley was sharp to prevent Ashley Hunter from scoring an own goal after Corey O’Keeffe’s cross was deflected and sent goal-bound, as Dale started to push forward in hopes of a goal.
This presented opportunities for the hosts on the break, with Thomas-Asante’s fierce effort denied by Coleman once again, while substitute Tom Elliott headed over from a superb Hunter cross.
Arguably the best chance of the game fell to Jake Beesley with just minutes remaining but after sitting Ashley Eastham down in the penalty area, he couldn’t get a shot away, and the game would finish goalless.
