Rochdale fell to a 1-0 defeat at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium on Saturday, despite a battling performance.
Shane Cansdell-Sheriff's 24th minute goal was the difference between the two sides.
There was one change to the eleven that lined up against Fleetwood Town last weekend as Matty Lund replaced Andy Cannon, who was omitted from the squads. It was Lund’s first competitive outing since undergoing knee surgery in July.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who joined Dale last month, appeared in the match squad for the first time and made his debut for the club as a second half substitute.
The game started at a high tempo, with both sides having the opportunity to open the scoring during the early stages.
In the ninth minute, the Brewers’ Calum Butcher watched on as his effort from outside of the area travelled narrowly wide of the upright, before Dale’s Lund was kept out by an important block. After a Donal McDermott free-kick was sent into the busy area, a headed clearance fell into the path of the midfielder, whose powerful strike was inadvertently blocked just yards from goal by John Mousinho.
With 16-minutes on the clock it looked like a Burton Albion mistake may gift Dale a goal. After goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin misread a back pass, he was forced to back track and only got there in time to scoop the ball off the line.
The match was end to end, and a few minutes later the Brewers came close as Mark Duffy’s effort, which he sent across the face of goal, went narrowly wide of the post.
Straight up the other end and McLaughlin bravely snuffed out a low ball before Ian Henderson, who was charging in on goal, could make a connection.
And it was in the 24th minute that Burton Albion opened the scoring from a free-kick. The set-piece, which was sent into the area, bounced off the knee of Cansdell-Sheriff, taking the ball beyond Josh Lillis.
Immediately after the goal, the Brewers had the opportunity to double their advantage but were kept out by an important save by Lillis at his post.
Dale enjoyed more of the ball as the half continued, but were limited to clear cut opportunities as the Brewers defended resolutely. Vincenti headed over the bar from a McDermott cross, while McDermott sent an effort over from the edge of the area.
HT: Burton Albion 1-0 Rochdale
There were no changes for Dale at the interval.
Rochdale started the second half brightly and a just a minute after the break Henderson was through on goal after some excellent play. His effort was closed down on the edge of the six-yard box, however, allowing substitute goalkeeper Remi Matthews, who has been introduced in the first half following an injury to McLaughlin, to collect.
Lillis had very little to do during the half, but despite Dale continuing to work hard in order to create an opening, they were unable to truly test Matthews, and shortly after the hour mark Manager Keith Hill made a double substitution. Reuben-Noble Lazarus and Mendez-Laing replaced Jamie Allen and Lund.
Frustratingly for Dale, Vincenti saw a dangerous delivery across the face of goal snatched out of the air by Matthews, as McDermott and Henderson waited inside the area.
A third substitution followed four minutes later as McDermott made away for Lewis Alessandra.
The Brewers’ Akins dragged an effort wide of the target in the 72nd minute, before Lillis pulled off an important save to deny Stuart Beavon seven minutes later. After taking a quick free-kick, the Dale defenders were caught up the pitch, and it was down to the brave goalkeeper to keep the forward out with his legs.
Rochdale kept battling, but the Brewers held firm.
It finished Burton Albion 1, Rochdale 0.