Gillingham 3 - 0 Rochdale

Photo: Alpha Photography

Keith Hill needs to address Dale's poor away form

Three second half goals condemned Dale to another defeat on the road despite shading the first 45 minutes. Frank Nouble’s deflected effort gave Gillingham the lead and with Rochdale pushing for an equaliser they were hit on the counter attack by two late goals through Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Mark Byrne.

The Dale boss made just one change to the side that beat Walsall at The Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday. Joe Bunney returned from suspension to take a more forward position than of late, Rueben Noble-Lazarus dropped to the bench.

Rochdale started the game on the front foot and had numerous half chances. Joe Bunney and Joe Rafferty fired off target whilst Nathaniel Mendez-Laing shot tamely at Stuart Nelson in the Gillingham goal.

Gillingham rarely threatened and when they did, Cody McDonald saw his shot blocked with Emmanuel-Thomas on the follow up wayward.

Oli Rathbone, fresh from scoring his first senior goal in the 4-0 win against Walsall on Tuesday, curled a shot wide of the mark when well placed.

Gillingham had the ball in the net just before the interval but an assistant’s flag denied Billy Cargill.

Hill made a double change soon after the re-start with Ian Henderson and Steven Davies coming on in place of Joe Bunney and Oli Rathbone.

Only minutes later, Dale fell behind when substitute Frank Nouble saw his goal bound shot deflect off Davies for the opening goal.

Dale stepped up a gear after the goal but just couldn’t find the breakthrough. Davies, Mendez-Laing and Sanmi Odelusi all going close.

With the game opening up as Dale pushed for a equaliser, Gillingham scored a second a minute from time. Emmanuel-Thomas turned well on the right before finishing beyond Logan.

A third in stoppage time put the game to bed when Byrne ran onto a pass from Rory Donnelly to fire into the net.

Despite defeat, Rochdale stay fifth in League One.

If Rochdale’s home form is scintillating, their away form needs few a few tweaks and with a trip to League Two leaders Carlisle United next week in the FA Cup, the Dale boss will have to come up with a formula to avert a cup exit.

Rochdale: Logan, Rafferty, McGahey, McNulty, Tanser, Lund, Camps (c), Mendez-Laing (Odelusi 67), Rathbone (Henderson 51), Bunney (Davies 51), Thompson.
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Canavan, Noble-Lazarus, Cannon.

Gillingham: Nelson, Ehmer, Wagstaff, Hessenthaler, McDonald (Donnelly 88), Knott (Nouble 14), Konchesky, Cargill, Dack (Byrne 80), Wright (c), Emmanuel-Thomas.
Subs: (not used) Hadler, Herd, Oshilaja, Osadebe.

Referee :Mr T Kettle
Assistants: Mr C Wade and Mr G Maskell
Fourth Official: Mr A Degnarain

Attendance: 5,409 (148 from Rochdale)