Dale recorded a second defeat in succession, this time at the hands of Rotherham United, as Adam Le Fondre scored against his former club to help The Millers to a 2-1 win over Keith Hill's side at the Don Valley Stadium.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill made two changes from the side that lost at home to Cheltenham on Tuesday night. Nathan Stanton returned from suspension to replace Marcus Holness, whilst Chris O'Grady, Friday's loan signing from Oldham, made his debut in Dale colours against his former club. This meant Kenny Arthur kept his spot in goal, with Craig Dawson partnering Nathan Stanton at the back, with Matt Flynn and Tom Kennedy in the full back positions. Gary Jones and Jason Kennedy continued their promising partnership in midfield, whilst Joe Thompson lined up on the right with Will Buckley moving to the left wing. Chris Dagnall partnered O'Grady up front for Dale. Adam Le Fondre made his home debut for The Millers against his former club.

As ever, both sides were hoping to get off to the best possible start and it was the home side who took the initiative early on. Paul Warne cut in from the right side before playing a one-two with Tom Pope and firing a left footed shot towards goal, which was tipped wide of the right post by Kenny Arthur. From the resulting corner Arthur had to be alert again, as Tom Pope managed to win a header 8 yards out, but fortunately for Dale it was straight at the former Accrington 'keeper.

Rotherham continued their early pressure with Adam Le Fondre getting involved for the first time in the game. A cross in from the left found Tom Pope whose free header hit Alfie in front of the goal, before being cleared by the Dale defence. However, the ball soon found its way back in to the Dale area and to Le Fondre, but his tame effort was picked up by Kenny Arthur in the Dale goal.

With Dale still trying to find their way in the game on a bizarre looking pitch, The Millers continued to pile the pressure on Keith Hill's side. With little over ten minutes gone Dale Tonge did well to intercept a pass and sprint down the right hand side before putting a great ball into the back post to Tom Pope, but his poor diving header went wide of the Dale goal. Just a few minutes later Adam Le Fondre had his first real opportunity to score against his former side. Craig Dawson's defensive header dropped into the path of the former Dale striker, but Kenny Arthur was out well to narrow the angle and block Alfie's shot with his chest.

With 18 minutes gone Dale managed to carve out their first opportunity of the game at the Don Valley stadium. Joe Thompson did well down the right to get past his man and he cut a superb ball back across the box to the back post for Will Buckley, who took the ball onto his left foot but had his shot saved by Andy Warrington in the Rotherham goal.

With 20 minutes gone in the first half, Dale's hearts were in their mouths as Adam Le Fondre put the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be ruled out for handball. Kenny Arthur took to long to clear a ball and Le Fondre seized on this by charging down the Dale 'keeper, blocking the clearance and putting the ball into the empty net, but fortunately for Dale the assistant referee deemed the block to be with the hand of the striker and the goal was disallowed.

This let off seemed to spark Dale into life as the away side turned the tables and started to put the pressure on Rotherham. Typically good football from Keith Hill's side saw Chris Dagnall in space on the edge of The Millers' area and he unleashed a left footed shot which was saved well by Andy Warrington to his left.

Dale continued with the pressure as Will Buckley did well to win a 50-50 with Dale Tonge on the Dale left before driving at the Rotherham defence. He cut back onto his right foot on the edge of the home side's box and his shot was straight at Warrington, but the former Bury goalkeeper dropped the ball almost into the path of Dagnall, who was a victim of the assistant's flag before he could turn the ball home.

With half an hour gone it looked as though the team in purple were starting to get a hold on the game and the pressure continued from the away side. Chris Dagnall did well to release Chris O'Grady into the Rotherham half, who carried the ball before releasing Will Buckley on the left. He had Gary Jones in support but decided to go alone and unfortunately for Dale his right foot shot went harmlessly wide.

Rotherham thought they had a good shout for penalty with just over five minutes remaining when a cross from Nicky Law appeared to hit Nathan Stanton in the arm, but the claims were turned down by the referee. It was a similar incident to the one at Port Vale when Stanton was penalised for the use of his arm, but thankfully on this occasion the officials saw sense and let play carry on.

Then came a kick in the teeth for Dale just before half-time. Nathan Stanton conceded a free kick in his side's left back area, which he was booked for. From the resulting free kick a great ball was whipped into the area which found Adam Le Fondre's head six yards out and the unmarked striker just had to use his neck muscles to good effect to direct the ball past Kenny Arthur in the Dale goal, sending his new side one goal to the good.

However, full credit must go to Dale for not letting this effect them in a way it could have easily done, as Le Fondre's former striker partner Chris Dagnall equalised in the second minute of injury time for Dale. Good football from Keith Hill's men in the Rotherham half led to Gary Jones playing a neat through ball into the path of Chris Dagnall. His shot was half blocked by Andy Warrington in the Rotherham goal, but the ball continued towards the goal and eventually crossed the line to draw Dale level.

This was to be the last action of what was a half of two halves. The home side dominated the opening 25 minutes with nothing to show for it, before Dale clawed their way back into the game to make their mark.

Dale made a very bright start to the second half, one which saw them create a few half chances, something that was missing from the away side in the first half. Chris Dagnall's volley was well blocked by Nick Fenton and Fenton got back up and blocked Chris O'Grady's fizzing effort to save his goalkeeper from being forced into action.

Rotherham's first venture into the Dale half nearly brought about a second goal for them and for Adam Le Fondre. A high ball into the box from the right was headed down by Tom Pope to Le Fondre, but his half volley went high over the crossbar when perhaps the former Dale man could have done better.

Dale continued their early pressure through Chris Dagnall. A high ball forward from Kenny Arthur was flicked on by Chris O'Grady into the path of Dagnall, but his tame right footed effort was easily saved by Andy Warrington.

Then, just after the hour mark, there was another distinct blow to Dale's chances of picking up all three points from the Don Valley Stadium. Slightly against the run of play came good work from Rotherham in the Dale left-back area and a low ball into the near post by Tom Pope was turned into the back of the net by veteran striker Paul Warne, making it 2-1 to the home side.

Dale needed to respond as they did in the first half after conceding and they almost managed that through new signing Chris O'Grady. Tom Kennedy played the ball forward into the feet of Chris Dagnall who played the ball into the feet of the on running Gary Jones. The Dale skipper played a through ball into the path of O'Grady who carried the ball before firing a left footed shot which was well saved by Andy Warrington in the Rotherham goal.

As Adam Le Fondre departed the pitch for Rotherham, Dale looked to force another equaliser. Good wing play from Adam Rundle, who replaced Will Buckley, and Joe Thompson almost carved out a few chances for Dale, but the away team couldn't quite find the cutting edge. With little over ten minutes remaining Joe Thompson made way for Scott Spencer as Keith Hill looked to find a way back into the game.

Kenny Arthur almost gifted Rotherham a third goal, as his clearance was hit straight at Tom Pope, but thankfully again for the Dale 'keeper it bounced straight back to him allowing him to pick the ball up with ease.

As the clock ticked down Rotherham looked to sit back and invite Dale pressure onto themselves. Chris O'Grady in particular looked to take the game to the home side and it was one of his piercing runs and ball back into the box that found Scott Spencer, whose shot was blocked six yards out before it could find its way towards the Rotherham goal. Adam Rundle had a decent opportunity after Chris O'Grady laid him off on the right of the area, but his left footed shot curled harmlessly wide and over.

As four minutes were indicated on the fourth official's board, Chris O'Grady almost equalised for Dale. Matt Flynn's ball over to the left side was brought down well by O'Grady, before he took the ball onto his left foot and forced a great save out of Andy Warrington to his left to put the ball out for a corner kick to Dale.

As the game rolled into the last minute Dale won a free kick on the edge of the Rotherham box. Scott Spencer laid the ball off to Gary Jones whose strike was blocked by the wall, before looping up into the air and into the path of Chris Dagnall who couldn't quite turn the ball home.

That was to be the last action of the game as the referee blew his whistle to signal for full-time in a game that was a close fought affair and the 2-1 loss was perhaps a harsh result on Dale, but Keith Hill's men came away with nothing for the second game in a row.

Rotherham: Warrington, Tonge, Joseph, Fenton, Green, Law, Mills, Harrison, Warne (Cummins 87), Pope, Le Fondre (Ellison 68).

Dale: Arthur, Flynn, T Kennedy, Dawson, Stanton, Jones, J Kennedy, Thompson (Spencer 78), Buckley (Rundle 61), Dagnall, O'Grady.

Referee: Mr G Sutton. Assistant Referees: Mr D Gratton, Mr D Markham. Fourth Official: Mr G Hart.

Attendance: 3,602 (439 away fans).