Barnsley 6 - 1 Rochdale

Sam Winnall scored a second half hat-trick as Barnsley crushed Rochdale. Alfie Mawson headed Barnsley into an early lead with Winnall netting his first just after half-time. Substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing got Dale back into the game only for Winnall to restore Barnsley's two goal advantage. Marley Watkins drilled through Josh Lillis to make it 4-1 before Winnall claimed the match ball late on. Former Dale loanee Kevin Long headed in a sixth deep into stoppage time.

After last weekend's postponement, the Rochdale players should have been refreshed but started slowly against a rejuvenated Barnsley side. A great free-kick on the left from Adam Hammill was glanced home by Mawson to open what turned out to be the floodgates.

Dale rarely threatened the Barnsley backline, Callum Camps having Dale’s only two moments of note in an even fought first half.

Seven minutes into the second half and Barnsley doubled their advantage. A quick counter attack down the left saw a swift move finished off by Winnall who swept home from close range.

Keith Hill, up against the side that sacked him three years ago, made a triple substitution which looked to be having the desired effect when Mendez-Laing headed Dale back into the game just six minutes after coming on. Michael Rose’s corner was well met by Mendez-Laing to make it 2-1.

Joe Bunney saw a shot blocked as Dale pushed for the leveller and were undone by another counter attacking move. Watkins’ header forward picked out Ashley Fletcher who in turn picked out Winnall to slot home Barnsley's third.

From that moment, it appeared like a damage limitation exercise for Rochdale and it certainly turned out that way.

Dale’s inability to clear their lines cost them a fourth goal, Watkins drilling a powerful shot through the legs of Lillis.

Winnall's hat-trick came in the 89th minute. Lillis came out to punch a ball but was beaten to it by Hammill giving the striker the easiest of headers into an open goal.

The goal scoring was completed in stoppage time when Kevin Long rose highest to power a header beyond Lillis to consign Dale to their heaviest defeat since 2006.

Attendance: 8,823

Rochdale: Lillis, Cannon (Bunney 59), McNulty, Lancashire, Rose, Camps, Lund, Vincenti, McDermott (Allen 59), Andrew (Mendez-Laing 59), Henderson (c)
Subs: (not used) Diba, Rafferty, Bennett, Noble-Lazarus

Barnsley: Davies, Bree (Roberts 82), Long, Mawson, G Williams, Brownhill (Scowen 79), Isgrove (Fletcher 68), Hourihane (c), Hammill, Watkins, Winnall
Subs: (not used) Townsend, R Williams, White, Templeton

Referee: Mr N Miller
Assistants: Mr R Bartlett and K Haycock
Fourth Official: Mr W Grunnill