Striker returns to haunt manager

DICKOV: Not entirely happy at O'Grady's performance...

PAUL Dickov couldn’t help but wear a wry smile as one of his former club-mates came back to haunt him at Boundary Park.

Chris O’Grady was a Leicester City trainee at the same time as Athletic’s manager was banging in the goals at the Walkers Stadium six years ago.

And the 24-year-old striker registered twice for Rochdale against both his ex-colleague and his former club at Boundary Park to help Dale to an historic derby win.

O’Grady’s first came by way of a quick reaction to Gary Jones’s penalty which hit a post, while the second was as a result of a defensive error.

“I know Chris well from him being a youngster at Leicester and can’t remember him doing that,” Dickov said.

“But sometimes the script is written when you come up against your old club.

“It (the penalty) came back at 100-miles-an-hour and he has shanked it in at 200-miles-an-hour.

“Fair play to Chris. He has done ever so well since he left here.”

Dale are now only a point behind Athletic, who still have three fixtures left to rearrange in Carlisle (home), MK Dons (away) and Colchester (away).