Hartlepool United 2-0 Rochdale

Rochdale went down to their first defeat under caretaker manager Chris Beech after this lacklustre 2-0 defeat at Hartlepool. Second half goals from James Brown and a stunner from youngster Luke James ended a run of 9 straight home defeats for the hosts.

Dale gave a debut to new loan signing from Blackpool Brett Ormerod with Akpa-Akpro dropping to the bench.

In a slow start to the game, it was the home side that showed the way to goal with a couple of half chances. Monkhouse headed over from a corner whilst Kurucz saved comfortably from Liddle, James and Baldwin.

It took Dale until 42 minutes to impose themselves on the game. Adams' breakaway gave him space but his left footed shot was easily gathered by Flinders.

Stephen Darby had to be alert to keep the scores level going into the break when Monkhouse's header beat Kurucz but not the Liverpool loanee.

Rochdale started the second half brightly with Ormerod heading narrowly over from Adams' free kick.

Beech's side were probing but neither side looked like breaking the deadlock until the 74th minute. Confusion in the Rochdale area led to a bouncing ball which was headed over Kurucz for 1-0.

Dale needed a response and threw Akpa-Akpro and Ashley Grimes into the action but moments later and the home side were 2-0 up.

Pool’s youngster Luke James hit a stunning first time volley from outside the area which flew past Kurucz.

The second goal ended the game as a contest although Grimes' cross led to Bogdanovic to glance a header that Flinders saved whilst the keeper got down well to deny Grimes from 30 yards.

The defeat means Beech's side drop back down one place to 23rd in League One and with games coming up against teams in and around the bottom of the division, Dale need to start picking up points.

Beech spoke after the game: "The game itself wasn’t a great game. Neither team got going in the first half although Hartlepool got the ball forward more than we did. I though in the second half we started playing better until they scored a scruffy goal. At that point, myself and Ryan (Kidd - assistant manager) had just spoken and we both felt we would be the team to score.

“The second goal is a great goal and I told the lad that when I shook his hand afterwards. We didn’t get the ball to Brett Ormerod enough. The chances he did get he got on target but we didn't do what we wanted to do. The performance wasn’t acceptable and we have told the lads that. It’s the first time in 3 weeks since we took over that has happened but we aren’t going to rant and rave at them as they know that.”

Att: 4663 (225 away)

Rochdale: Kurucz, Darby (Tutte 82), Holden, Jordan, Widdowson, Adams (Akpa-Akpro 76), Jones(c), Kennedy, Ormerod, Ball (Grimes 76), Bogdanovic 

Subs (not used): Holness, Edwards

Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Collins (c), Hartley, Horwood, Murray (Brown 68), Liddle, Baldwin, Monkhouse, Sweeney, James (Humhpries 90)

Subs (not used): Rafferty, Boyd, Solano

Referee:     Mr J Adcock
Ass Referee:    Mr M Coy & Mr M Griffiths
4th official:    Mr D Markham