Rochdale 1-5 Stevenage

Ten man Rochdale were crushed by play-off hopefuls Stevenage in an afternoon to forget for caretaker manager Chris Beech. A goal down at half time, Dale were soon 2-0 down after the restart before home debutant Brett Ormerod gave Beech’s side hope when he swept home. That hope lasted only 30 seconds as Wilson restored the 2 goal cushion when he beat the offside trap and fired home before Joe Widdowson was given his marching orders for a second booking. Freeman and Byrom compounded Dale’s misery mid way through the second half.

After defeat last weekend at Hartlepool, many were expecting a positive response coming into this game against a Stevenage side rocked just 24 hours ago at the departure of their manager to Preston North End.

Marcus Holness was recalled to the starting 11 by Beech as was Joe Thompson with Stephen Darby and David Ball missing out, Darby not even included on the bench.

The opening 15 minutes belonged to Dale with 68 per cent possession although their only really foray into a dangerous area came on 5 minutes when a flowing move by Adams picked out Thompson but his cross was cut out with Ormerod about to pounce.

The visitors, who are known for their physical presence on the pitch, earned a corner on 12 minutes and when Adams let his marker go, Laird was able to direct a free header just over the bar when he should have done better.

That should have acted as a warning shot for the home team as just 6 minutes later Stevenage were ahead. Luke Freeman turned Holden inside the area before firing low inside the keepers near post to open the scoring.

Joe Widdowson let his frustrations show minutes later when he was booked for a rash challenge almost in the quadrant near his own corner flag, a booking that would come back to haunt Beech’s side.

Laird saw a 30 yard free kick saved by Kurucz whilst a long punt up-field by Day in the visitors’ goal was headed back to his own keeper by Holness although the defender put the ball beyond the custodian and out for a corner.

Beech made a bold move at the start of the second period when he replaced Thompson & Adams with Ball and Grimes. That move perhaps should have spurred Dale on but instead within 90 seconds of the restart, Stevenage were 2-0 up. The strong Beardsley held up the ball inside the area before laying it off to Wilson who smashed home to double the lead.

Dale responded quite well and were back in the game 6 minutes later. Bogdanovic’s run down the right created space for a cross which fell to Ormerod who swept home a powerful shot from 12 yards to half the deficit.

The 2 goal lead was restored almost immediately when Wilson beat the offside trap and whilst the Dale defence stood with their arms in the air, the midfielder ran through to slot home Stevenage’s third.

Things went from bad to worse for Dale when Widdowson was shown a second yellow for a late challenge on the edge of the area.

From that moment it was backs against the wall for the home side. 3 minutes after the red card, Stevenage made it 4. Freeman ran at the Dale defence before cutting onto his left foot and unleashing a powerful shot that was too much for Kurucz.

With the visitors looking at scoring on every attack, Byrom made it 5 on 66 minutes when he swept home from inside the area.

Stevenage went close with a plethora of chances in the second period but a mixture of poor finishing, good defending and some great stops by Kurucz kept the score at 5. Rochdale did have one or two chances in the latter stages with Bogdanovic, Holden and substitute Amankwaah going close.

The visitors did score a 6th but it was ruled out for a push on Holness.

Something needs to change for Rochdale in the very near future or they risk getting cut adrift at the bottom of League One and with their game in hand coming on Tuesday when they visit Tranmere, getting something from that game is an absolute must.

Chris Beech spoke afterwards: “We start the game really well and for the first 10 minutes they don’t go in our half. They scored from the first situation where we give the ball away, Holden slips, their lad shoots and it sneaks in at the near post. From that moment, anxiety creeps in and we start playing into Stevenage’s tactics. We made changes at half time as we weren’t happy. They were positive changes but we were soon 2-0 down. We got back in the game through a fantastic strike by Ormerod. Did we switch off after we scored? You will have to ask them that. You play to the whistle and our players didn’t. That mad 5 minutes ended in a sending off too. I won’t publicly condemn any player but in terms of that first tackle (by Widdowson), it wasn’t needed in that part of the pitch. If you are going to take a booking then that is the wrong area of the pitch to take one at the wrong time. At the end of the day it’s a results business but I know what we have been doing is good but at the same time we have switched off and had a player sent off at a vital part of the game. We are then up against an extra man against a very physical team who have pace. I went to 3 at the back at 3-1 but at 5-1 I had to sacrifice Jason (Kennedy) to stop the scoreline becoming an embarrassing score even though 5 is embarrassing.”

Att:2367

Rochdale: Kurucz, Holness, Holden, Jordan, Widdowson, Adams (Ball 46), Jones(c), Kennedy (Amankwaah 69), Thompson (Grimes 46), Ormerod, Bogdanovic 

Subs (not used): Akpa-Akpro, Lucas

Stevenage: Day, Wilson, Laird, Charles (Edwards 61), Ashton, Byrom, Roberts (c), Freeman (Long 74), Beardsley (Cowan 77), Bostwick, Henry

Subs (not used): Julian, Shroot

Referee:     Mr C Webster
Ass Referee:    Mr S Copeland & Mr P Hodkinson
4th official:    Mr P Kettlewell