Dale picked up a fantastic three points with a 2-1 victory over Notts County. A penalty from Chris Dagnall and a goal from Chris O'Grady saw Dale come from behind after Ben Davies gave The Magpies the lead.
Keith Hill made three changes from the side that started the game at Dagenham on Saturday, with two of them enforced. In came Matt Flynn for the suspended Tom Kennedy, whilst Nathan Stanton returned from his suspension in place of the injured Marcus Holness. Rory McArdle dropped to the bench as Keith Hill brought in Will Buckley. The full line-up was Tom Heaton in goal, with Matt Flynn at right-back, Craig Dawson and Nathan Stanton at centre-back and Wiseman at left-back. The front six was a case of doubling in terms of names, with the two Jasons, Kennedy and on-loan Taylor in the middle of the park. The two Wills on the wings were Buckley and Atkinson, whilst two Chrises were up front in the shape of Dagnall and O'Grady. The subs were Danny Taberner, Rory McArdle, Chris Brown, Ciaran Toner, Kallum Higginbotham and Scott Spencer.
A lot has been made of Dale making poor starts to recent matches and that trend continued on Saturday as Keith Hill's side went behind after three minutes at Dagenham. A better start would be key against a Notts County side that were leading scorers coming into the game. The first half-chance of the game did fall to the away side when Ben Davies had an effort that went harmlessly wide of Tom Heaton's goal.
However, the opening ten minutes were completely dominated by Dale as six corners were forced in quick succession. Impressive work from Will Atkinson on the edge of the area allowed him to get a shot off which took a deflection on its way to being palmed wide by Kasper Schmeichel.
Tricky wing work from Will Buckley and Will Atkinson was causing the Notts defence problems with Brendan Moloney and the experienced Jamie Clapham being on the end of their twisting and turning.
Notts forced their first corner in the 13th minute and almost took the lead from it. It was whipped in from the right to Neal Bishop, who signed from Barnet in the summer. He rose highest in the area but his header cannoned back off the bar before Tom Heaton collected as the ball dropped.
Despite the relatively quiet start by The Magpies, they showed their attacking prowess in the 18th minute when Craig Westcarr went very close to breaking the deadlock. Good interplay between their striking partnership of Ade Akinbiyi and Luke Rodgers saw the latter feed the ball out left to Westcarr, whose first time bending effort narrowly flew past Tom Heaton's left hand post.
Dale are no slouches on the attack themselves and Chris O'Grady went close a minute later for the home side. His strike partner Chris Dagnall played the ball into O'Grady's feet who turned and struck a left-foot shot narrowly wide of Kasper Schmeichel's goal.
Chris Dagnall showed why he is so important to Dale in the 22nd minute when he matches Neal Bishop's effort for County by hitting the underside of the bar. He broke clear of the Notts midfield before turning Graham Lee inside out and firing off a stinging shot that beat Schmeichel all ends-up, but came back off the underside of the crossbar before Jason Kennedy just poked wide. It was the closest either side had come to opening the scoring with half of the first-half played, one which had been entertaining as you would expect between the League's two highest scorers.
With half an hour played there was an almighty scramble in the Notts County box from a Will Buckley corner. The ball fell to Chris Dagnall at the near post whose shot was scuffed square across the six yard box before being cleared to safety.
A minute later and Notts County caused trouble from a corner of their own. The ball was aimed towards Graham Lee this time whose header was chested off the line by Jason Taylor at Tom Heaton's left post before being cleared by Chris Dagnall.
With ten minutes remaining until half-time, Dale fell behind as Notts County took the lead. A ball was crossed from the right by Luke Rodgers which evaded everyone in the Dale box before coming to Ben Davies at the back post who nodded the ball past Tom Heaton to give his side the lead.
Dale are no strangers at having to come from behind to earn something from the game, and they had a great chance to equalise just four minutes later from the penalty spot. Matt Flynn played the ball into Chris Dagnall 30 yards out who turned with the ball, beat three Notts County defenders before being brought down inside the area. The decision from referee Miller brought a furious reaction from the Notts defence and Kasper Schmeichel, who tried his best to put Dagnall off as he stepped up to take the penalty. However, the Dane's mind-games didn't work as Dagnall made it ten for the season placing the ball past the County 'keeper who went the right way but couldn't keep it out.
It was an action packed end to the half and as the 4th official indicated there would be two minutes of added time, Chris O'Grady doubled Dale's lead. Nathan Stanton cleared the ball which looked to be dealt with easily by the Notts County centre-back pairing of Graham Lee and Stephen Hunt. However, the two produced a moment of comedy genius by colliding with one another allowing the on-rushing Chris O'Grady to steal in and carry the ball forward. His touch was a little heavy which inticed Kasper Schmeichel to come for the ball. However, the on-loan striker managed to knock the ball just past Schmeichel before playing the ball towards the empty net, doubling Dale's lead on the stroke of half-time.
It was a half which was just edged by Dale, but one that produced entertaining, end-to-end football as Dale went in 2-1 up.
Dale's second-half performances this season have certainly been superior to those from the first-half, but a performance from the first-half in this game in the second 45 would go some way to seeing them pick up three points. Will Buckley continued to terror the Notts full-back as he forced John Thompson into clearing his 48th minute cross for a corner. He did the same in the 54th minute as he picked up the ball on the left before running at right-back Brendan Moloney and turning him, but his shot left a lot to be desired as it went well wide, almost for a throw-in, but rolled out for a goal kick.
The second half was taking a while to reach the same pace as the first did, with Dale having the lion's share of possession as they looked to double their lead. Substitute Matt Ritchie had a effort from range for Notts County but his left-footed shot went high and wide of Tom Heaton's goal. Will Atkinson tried the spectacular from a corner in the 64th minute, but his overhead kick was comfortably saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Notts County forced a couple of corners midway through the 2nd half as they looked for a way back into the match, but they couldn't force Tom Heaton into action. It was Dale who were looking more likely to score the next goal and were always dangerous on the counter attack with the pace of Will Buckley and Will Atkinson on the wings.
It would be down to Kallum Higginbotham to continue Atkinson's good work as he came on for the on-loan winger in the 74th minute.
The second half had been void of many clear chances, but the best chance of the half fell to Notts County through . His shot flew across the face of goal and just wide Tom Heaton's left hand post as Spotland breathed a sigh of relief.
Dale were still looking to stream forward at every opportunity and Chris O'Grady had a chance to unleash his powerful shot, but chose to turn back and feed the ball to Dagnall whose shot was well blocked by John Thompson. A block was needed from Dale just a minute later when Matt Ritchie's shot was well stopped by Kallum Higginbotham just a few yards in front of Tom Heaton's goal.
The clocked ticked into the final five minutes and it brought about a step-up in pressure from The Magpies as they looked for an equaliser. They nearly got that all important goal when Brendan Moloney cross from the right to find Matt Ritchie, but his first time right foot shot cleared Dale's crossbar.
With two minutes remaining, Karl Hawley had a good effort from 25 yards, but Tom Heaton got down well to his right to make a comfortable save.
Nathan Stanton's return to the side was very welcome, as he and Man of the Match Craig Dawson did superbly in keeping out the Notts County attack in the second half, with Dawson being something of a colossus in the air and with his goal-saving blocks.
There would be four minutes of added time, but this wasn't a signal for Dale to sit-back and see the game out, as Chris Dagnall, now up front on his own, continued to carry the fight to County. However, it was Notts who had a fantastic chance to equalise in the 47th minute through Ade Akinbiyi. Craig Westcarr made Ciaran Toner commit to a challenge on the right before crossing low for Akinbiyi, who almost passed the ball to Tom Heaton, allowing the on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper to collect the ball easily.
It was nervy stuff inside Spotland as Notts took the game to Dale in the final minutes, but they couldn't create a clear opportunity, and as Tom Heaton rose to collect a high ball, referee Miller put the whistle to his lips and blew for full-time, to a magnificent roar from the Spotland crowd.
The win keeps Dale in 2nd place, but moves us within a point of Bournemouth who drew their clash with Dagenham 0-0. There's no game for Keith Hill's side at weekend due to being out of the FA Cup, so our next game will come at Valley Parade next Tuesday as Dale look to make it a third win in a row.
Dale: Heaton, Wiseman, Dawson, Stanton, Flynn, Kennedy, Taylor, Atkinson, Buckley, O'Grady, Dagnall.
Notts County: Schmeichel, Moloney, Lee, Bishop, Davies, Clapham, Hunt, Rodgers, Westcarr, Jackson, Akinbiyi.
Referee: Mr NS Miller. Assistant Referee: Mr M Brown & Mr P Marsden. 4th Official:Mr R Atkin.
Attendance: 2,779.
