The BURKS

Midfielder Gareth O'Connor scored a penalty six minutes from time to earn Bournemouth a draw against Rochdale and preserve their three-month unbeaten home run.

Rochdale looked to be heading for only their fourth away victory of the season when Clive Platt took advantage of a mistake from on-loan Southampton goalkeeper Alan Blayney to put his side into a 3-2 lead.

Blayney's attempted clearance was charged down by Lee McEvilly, and Platt had the simple task of netting into an empty goal.

But O'Connor's spot-kick restored parity 12 minutes later.

Bournemouth striker Steve Fletcher was manhandled in the area by defender Gareth Griffiths and O'Connor's penalty squirmed under goalkeeper Neil Edwards' body and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Marcus Browning had given the home side a fourth-minute lead before David Flitcroft equalised on 15 minutes with a sweetly struck first-time volley.

Fletcher restored Bournemouth's lead a minute from half-time.

He headed home at the far post, before McEvilly levelled for the second time from the penalty spot after Carl Fletcher was adjudged to have handled in the area.