Wolves end Rochdale run

Ndah grabbed the opening goal for Wolves

Wolves 3-1 Rochdale

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Rochdale's FA Cup dream came to an end when they went down bravely to Wolves at Molineux.

The Third Division side were on level terms 11 minutes from time, but late goals from Kenny Miller and Adam Proudlock put Wolves into the last eight.

George Ndah had put Wolves ahead in the first half to carry on his run of scoring in every round so far.

Rochdale threatened to pull off one of the great cup shocks when they grabbed an equaliser early in the second half.

But a controversial goal from Miller put Wolves back in front, and knocked the wind out of their lower league opponents.

Key moments

32 mins: Ndah opens the scoring for Wolves

52 mins: Simpson's shot is deflected home by Melaugh

79 mins: Miller scores from close range to put Wolves back in front

Wolves were on top for much of the game, with Mark Kennedy's pace testing the Rochdale defence early on.

Kennedy was at the centre of most of Wolves' play and he shot over after six minutes.

Rochdale struggled to stay with their First Division opponents, but they showed signs of threatening when David Flitcroft split the defence - but Scott Warner's first touch let him down.

FA Cup action in pictures

After coming under the cosh early on Rochdale managed to frustrate the home side.

Simon Grand did what the Wolves frontline failed to do by causing his keeper Matthew Gilks problems with a wayward backpass, and the young stopper was forced to slice a clearance out for a corner.

Wolves were reduced to speculative long-range efforts, with Paul Ince twice well off-target before Ndah fired straight at Gilks.

On 32 minutes Wolves got the breakthrough with a scrambled effort from Ndah.

Kennedy's corner was miskicked by Ince, but the ball fell kindly for Ndah to get his fourth goal in the competition, via a deflection off Lee McEvilly that escaped the reach of Gilks.

Ndah (left) scored the opener

Another Kennedy corner caused problems for Dale when helped on by Jolean Lescott and Gilks had to react quickly to hold on to Paul Butler's header.

Gilks did even better to keep out an Ince volley on the stroke of half-time.

Rochdale player-boss Paul Simpson, returning to one of his old clubs, tried his luck from 30 yards out but his effort was blocked.

However he refused to be disheartened and on 52 minutes the 4,000 visiting fans were sent into raptures when Dale grabbed an equaliser.

A Simpson shot lacked power, but it took a wicked deflection off Gavin Melaugh that sent it past Wolves keeper Matt Murray.

Rochdale began to stroke the ball around with confidence.

But the hammer blow came when Gilks could only parry a shot from Lee Naylor and Miller pounced to fire home from the rebound, despite looking in an offside position.

Proudlock then came off the bench to score with almost the last kick of the game.

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Wolves: Murray, Irwin, Butler, Lescott, Naylor, Newton (Rae 74), Ince, Cameron, Kennedy, Miller (Proudlock 90), Ndah.
Subs not used: Oakes, Sturridge, Clyde.

Rochdale: Gilks, Evans (McCourt 82), Griffiths, Grand, Warner, Flitcroft, Simpson, Melaugh, Hill, Platt, McEvilly.
Subs not used: Hodges, Townson, Doughty, Jobson.

Booked: Grand, Melaugh.

Attendance: 23,921

Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).