There was much anticipation around Spotland when Chris Dagnall's name was read out on the substitutes bench before today's game. The Dale faithful expect goals when they see Dagnall in a Rochdale shirt but even they couldn't have foreseen him coming off the substitutes bench after a six-month absence and grabbing a hat trick within 25 minutes.

Dagnall looked like he had never been away with three excellent finishes in a game that was in truth very tight until the introduction of the 21-year old.

With Dale having the better of the early exchanges it came to some surprise when Rotherham took the lead with their first chance of the game. Mark Joseph was allowed the space in the box from a corner to head home past the Spotland debutant Tommy Lee in the Rochdale goal.

Lee, on-loan from Macclesfield nearly gifted the Robins a second goal seven minutes later. The former Manchester United trainee came out to punch a Chris O'Grady cross but got nothing but thin air. Derek Holmes headed on target but fortunately for Dale Simon Ramsden was on had to head over the Dale goal.

Dale were creating plenty of chances in the first half but just lacked that cutting edge in front of goal, until the half hour mark. Captain, Gary Jones got his side the equaliser that in truth they thoroughly deserved. Rene Howe took the ball inside the penalty box before playing Jones in, who had the made the run alongside him. Jones had time to pick his spot and he did exactly that to bring the scores level.

Keith Hill's half time team talk could have been that much sweeter if Howe had of taken his chance seven minutes later. Ben Muirhead cut through the Rotherham defence with his pass and with Howe's first touch setting him up nicely for a one-on-one with the Robins goalkeeper Andy Warrington it looked like Dale were going to grab the lead. However, Howe's shot was straight at Warrington, and Rotherham defence had escaped the embarrassment.

The Dale front line were looking rather stale in the second half forcing Hill in to his masterstroke. Off came Howe and Le Fondre, on came Dagnall and Thorpe and it worked a real treat for the Dale boss.

Thorpe was causing real problems for the Robins' defence and it was no surprise he was part of Rochdale's equaliser. After fine work from Adam Rundle to find Thorpe in the penalty box, Thorpe held the ball up showing great strength to hold off two defenders then pulling the ball back for Dagnall, who finished neatly and Spotland erupted. Dagnall had now found his taste and five minutes later he was on hand again. Chris Basham, a second half substitute carried the ball down the right wing and found Dagnall with a terrific ball, Dagnall once again duly obliged. Just as you thought he had done there was time for his hat trick. His third was the best of the bunch. Just inside the penalty box with a left footed strike he found the bottom left hand corner of Warrington's goal to complete one of the all time fine and under today's circumstances best hat tricks ever to be scored at Spotland.