Exeter City 3-1 Rochdale

Disastrous defending by Rochdale turned a game that should have been over by half-time into another defeat at the hands of bogey team Exeter City. Dale took the lead through debutant Nathan Ecclestone but despite their dominance couldn’t add to the lead and were pegged back on the stroke of half time when Stephen Darby missed his clearance and Danny Nardiello slid home. Marcus Holness gave away a penalty in the second half which Nardiello dispatched before Jake Taylor finished off the scoring after sloppy play from Holness.

Steve Eyre gave a debut to on loan Liverpool striker Nathan Ecclestone with Barnes-Homer missing out of the 16 man squad.

At a ground that has been a graveyard for so many Dale teams in the past, the team of 2011 set about the task of righting so many wrongs on trips to Devon.

Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro forced a corner in the opening minutes which was taken short to Grimes. The former City man whipped the ball in with Akpa-Apro seeing his header come back off the post.

Nardiello was a threat for the home side and fired over with one chance and forced Kean to take evasive action when through but the Dale stopper pushed the ball from the strikers feet – getting a knock in the process.

Eyre's side were looking the more likely to score and in a 60 second spell around the 15 minute mark they could have had 2. Firstly Balkestein saw his downward header parried and from the corner Akpa-Akpro hit the woodwork for a second time with a bullet header and Trotman saw his stooping header brilliantly tipped over by Krysiak from the rebound.

Trotman almost opened the scoring when he met a Balkestein cross but Archibald-Henville cleared off the line and Jones was denied by another fine Krysiak save when he tipped over a powerful drive.

Akpa-Akpro had a weak effort saved when he should have tested the keeper more but the travelling 139 supporters didn't have long to wait before they were celebrating.

Grimes down the left flank got away from his man and squared for Ecclestone who under pressure prodded home from inside the 6 yard box for a dream debut.

Dale looked to press home and add to their lead but Ecclestone fired well over after Grimes knock down.

With the 4th officials board set to go up with the added time, Exeter levelled. A miss placed clearance by Stephen Darby tight on the right flank saw the ball drop to home skipper Noble whose audacious 40 yard shot deflected off Trotman and fell to Nardiello who on the turn fired in off the post to send the teams in 1-1 at the break.

Exeter made a change at half-time with Bauza being replaced by Sercombe as Tisdale looked to capitalise on the late leveller before the break.

Andrew Tutte was virtually anonymous for a lot of the first half but brought another good save from Krysiak with a curling 18 yard shot whilst Jones fired over from a similar distance.

It was looking like another game where Dale would rue missed chances and that proved the case on 56 minutes when Marcus Holness pulled Taylor to the ground inside the area. Nardiello beat the offside trap before holding the ball up and when Taylor was played in, Holness hauled over the on loan Reading player with referee Berry pointing straight to the spot. Nardiello stepped up to slam the ball straight down the middle of Kean's goal to give the home side the unlikeliest of leads.

The second goal seemed to rock Eyre's men and Kean had to be at his best to deny Sercombe after his deflected shot wrong footed the keeper but he adjusted his feet well to push away.

The game seemed to be edging away from Dale and with 9 minutes of the 90 left another Dale mistake led to Exeter's 3rd. Holness was too low in releasing the ball from the back and was hurried into a clearance by Taylor with the defender finding the feet of an opponent who returned the ball to Taylor. From inside the area, Taylor fired between the legs of Kean to put the game beyond any doubt.

It was a disappointing day for the visiting fans who have witnessed another dominant opening from their team but a failure to capitalise on chances and defensive mistakes cost them dear.

Steve Eyre afterwards apologised to the fans and admitted that for the first time this season he felt let down by the players.

With the game on Tuesday coming so quickly after this one, it gives the players the chance almost immediately the chance to rectify today’s result.

Steve Eyre spoke after the game: “Defending today was horrific. It wasn't a difficult game although it ended up that way. Myself and Frankie Bunn (assistant manager) will take responsibility today but i'm not sure what more we can do when lads are failing to pass to a blue shirt or keep balls on the pitch. We set the lads up all week but 3 bits of untidy defending have undone all the hard work. For the first time this season, we feel let down. We crafted a good goal by a move down the wing that involved Ashley Grimes and a predator’s finish by Nathan. We were looking forward to going in at half-time 1-0 up but when defending comes in like that, it makes the team talk totally different. The home team have got their tails up and we should really be enjoying that period after having a pretty much trouble free half. We have got the answers to the mistakes but the players have got to take some responsibility for the mistakes. It’s not the first time Marcus has given a penalty away. Then towards the end he has had to play a ball with his wrong foot which should have been a simple one to Balkestein but Pim has gone down the line and left Marcus with a difficult pass which they have got hold of. We will prepare for Tuesday, the lads will be in tomorrow (Sunday) as we would have been regardless of today’s result. We will analyse today and move on. Through the club website, I get the chance to speak to the supporters, I would like to apologies to them for the journey, their commitment and their support. I don’t think anybody can question the players’ effort but you can definitely question spells of quality during the game.”

Att: 3844 (139 away)

Rochdale: Kean, Holness, Trotman, Balkestein, Darby, Jones (C ), Tutte (Kennedy 66), Ecclestone, Adams (Kennedy 66), Akpa-Akpro, Grimes

Subs (not used): Lucas, Twaddle, Barry-Murphy

Exeter City: Krysiak, Tully, Dunne, Archibald-Henville, Noble (c), Nardiello, Goldbourne, Oakley, Coles, Bauza (Sercombe 46), Taylor

Subs (not used): Pidgeley, Jones, O'Flynn, Logan

Referee: Mr C Berry
Ass Referee: Mr K Johnson, Mr M Pottage
4th Official: Mr R Corp