Southend 3 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale’s miserable run at Southend continued with another defeat at Roots Hall. It's 27 years since a Dale side last won at this ground.

Terry Gornell headed Coleman’s men into the lead just after the break but were pegged when Assombolonga hit Dale with a counter attacking move. The home side sealed the points near the end with another breakaway goal.

In difficult conditions, due to heavy rainfall in Essex, both teams played some good football.

The early running was by the home side and they almost went in front when Assombalonga looped a header off the post.

Lillis made a smart save moments later from Assombalonga whilst Adebola should have done better at the other end when he made headway into the area.

Terry Gornell saw his glancing header saved by Smith after a Tutte cross.

Bobby Grant fired a 30 yard free kick narrowly wide whilst Grant was denied by Smith in the Southend goal with another free kick but the teams went in at the break level.

The second half started well for Dale and they took the lead five minutes in. Phil Edwards’s deep right wing cross was met at the back post by Gornell who headed back across the face of goal with the ball nestling inside the post.

Southend reacted well to going behind with the Dale defence just about getting the ball away after Lillis’ attempt to clear failed.

It didn’t take long for Southend to get level but it came from a Dale corner. Southend broke away through the pacey Assombalongo with the on loan Watford man firing past Lillis from the edge of the area.

Dale seemed rattled and were soon behind. Timlin’s left wing cross almost crept in at the near post but Lillis managed to push away with the ball dropping to Tomlin who had the easy task to slot home from eight yards out.

Coleman’s men tried in vain to get back on terms but were again caught on the counter attack. Southend broke in numbers and with only Phil Edwards back Laird was played in to chip the ball over the on rushing Lillis.

Defeat drops Dale out of the top seven but, with a game in hand against York next week, Coleman will be looking to get back to winning ways.

Coleman said: “We can complain about ourselves after that but nothing else.

"We rode our luck in the first 15 minutes but then I think we possibly shaded it.

"We got ourselves in front in the second half and then shot ourselves in the foot. We are winning 1-0; we have had three successive corners. We’ve worked on loads of different corners yet we seemed so indecisive. We get the ball, Bobby (Grant) cuts back inside and our full backs have both pushed on. They break away and we’ve committed eight men forward with half an hour to go.

"You could have sworn we were getting beat 2-0 at the time and pushing to get back in the game; absolutely ludicrous.

"We have conceded far too many goals away from home and ultimately that’s going to cost us where we are going to be come the end of the season unless I do something about it.

"I’m kicking myself that I didn’t make more of a fuss to sign another defender (before the loan window closed on Friday). We aren’t good enough at the back. Teams don’t have to work very hard to score as you saw today. Until I get better players in, we are going to continue and we go where we go in the league.”

Attendance: 5216 (114 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Lillis, P Edwards, Bennett, R Edwards, McIntyre, Cavanaugh ©, Tutte, Kennedy, Grant, Gornell, Adebola (Donnelly 75)
Subs: (not used) Rafferty, Grimes, Putterill, Pearson, Craney, Smith

Southend: Smith, Clohessy, Cresswell, Phillips, Barker ©, Mkandawire, Laird, Hurst, Timlin, Tomlin, Assombolonga
Subs: (not used) Eastwood, Corr, Martin, Prosser, Bentley, Spicer, Woodyard

Referee: Carl Berry
Assistant Referees: Chris O’Donnell & Michael George
Fourth Official: Adrian Sannerude