Rochdale 3-0 Newport County: Jake Beesley scores twice for hosts

Rochdale have won six of their last nine league games against Newport County, keeping clean sheets in seven of those games.

Rochdale continued their good form over Newport County as Jake Beesley's double helped them to a comfortable 3-0 win.

The hosts made an ideal start as Beesley fired home his eighth league goal after only two minutes thanks to a fine run and pass from Conor Grant.

Beesley scored a second from the penalty spot on 72 minutes after Mickey Demetriou was adjudged to have fouled Rochdale wing-back Corey O'Keeffe.

Beesley then turned provider as he set up Liam Kelly after a counter-attack.

Rochdale have beaten Newport in five successive home league games.

The victory sees Rochdale rise to 15th in League Two, while Newport fall to sixth.

Newport manager James Rowberry: "Mickey [Demetriou] gets the ball for the penalty he [the referee, Carl Boyeson] gives. I have to be very careful about what I say because I don't want to get fined and I want my kids to have presents for Christmas.

"The decision changed the game. Then we're chasing the game. We needed to be a little bit more streetwise.

"But I can't take credit away from them [Rochdale]. They've had 18 shots at goal, we've had 12, we've controlled the game with the ball but we've not controlled both boxes."