Rochdale secured three points on Tuesday evening with a 3-2 win over Rotherham United at the New York Stadium.
Goals from Dele Adebola, Bobby Grant and Kevin McIntyre ended a year long wait for back to back wins in a roller coaster of a game in South Yorkshire.
There was one change to the Dale stariting eleven with Ashley Grimes making way for Geroge Donnelly.
Rochdale’s defence had a busy first half as Rotherham United put the back four under continuous pressure during the opening 20 minutes.
All early pressure was on the Dale goal as Rotherham started the brighter of the two sides. With just two minutes on the clock, the Millers’ Gareth Evans had the home sides first effort of the match after being allowed time to find space and send an off target shot past the upright.
On 6 minutes Kayode Odejayi managed to twist free of his marker and send the second effort of the evening wide of goal.
The pacey frontman was involved in the action just minutes later, this time sending a close range effort over the bar.
Rotherham continued to play at a high tempo and denied Dale time on the ball. With Rochdale struggling to get the ball down and play, the Millers went in search of the opener.
And on 12 minutes, it looked like Alex Revell had broken the deadlock as sent a menacing volley across the face of goal after playing the ball long to see off his two markers. The effort curled at speed, and despite, catching out ‘keeper Josh Lillis, it went inched past the far post.
The Millers continued to keep Dale in their own half but despite applying the pressure, the back four and Lillis stood strong to see off the early danger.
After the early onslaught, Rochdale began to settle into the game and began to threaten in front of goal.
On 21 minutes, Phil Edwards hit over the bar in Dale’s first real attack of the match, while five minutes later Andrew Tutte had a long range effort saved by goalkeeper Scott Shearer.
Just after the hour mark and there were calls for a sending off as Rotherham ‘keeper Shearer appeared to handle the ball outside of the area after coming wildly off his line to see off the onrunning Bobby Grant. The referee however waved play on and despite having the advantage Dale failed to turn the ball into the goalkeeper-less net as the home defence rallied to block efforts from Grant and Donnelly off the line.
The momentum was with Rochdale and six minutes later Shearer pulled off a fantastic save to keep out Rhys Bennett who drove a shot goalward from a tight angle.
With Rochdale looking livelier in the final third they continued to apply the pressure which paid off on the stroke off half time as Adebola fired Dale ahead following a mistake by Odejayi. He squared the ball to Donnelly who played in Adebola who gave Dale the advantage at the break.
The home side started the second half as they had in the first and came out all cylinders firing after the interval.
Just a minute after the start Lillis was called into action as he had to react quickly to see out Odejayi who sent an effort goalward. This was followed up by tight angled shot from Ben Pringle which flew over the bar.
With Rotherham threatening an equaliser always looked likely and the goal came just before the hour mark.
Lillis was unable to smother an initial effort from Alex Revell, and had to rely on Bennett to clear the follow up from Revell off the line. But despite the best efforts to get the ball away, Rochdale were unable to clear the danger and Revell finally got the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-1 at the New York Stadium.
The home side then introduced summer signing Danny Nardiello onto the field of play which turned out to be an inspired substitution.
Just moments after the change he fired a menacing shot across the face of goal, and despite leaving Lillis at his near post, there were no men in red and white waiting to turn the ball into the back of the net.
Up the other end, and former Dale Jason Taylor denied Grant after clearing the striker’s header off the line.
The match continued end to end and it was on 65 minutes that Rotherham went on to take the lead through Nardiello who fired home after getting on the end of an Ian Sharp ball which had been headed back across the face of goal.
But Rochdale were far from beaten, and going behind seemed to spur the team on as they searched for the goal which would draw them level.
On 71 minutes McIntyre looked on as his shot from 35 yards out came off the inside of the post. This was followed up by a great save from Shearer who had to tip a well struck free-kick from Donnelly over the bar.
And with Dale on the front foot, they bagged the goal which saw the match level to 2-2. The referee judged that Jason Kennedy had been tripped at the edge of the area on 74 minutes and awarded a penalty.
Grant stepped up to take the resulting spot kick and coolly slotted it home to give Dale a life line.
Momentum was once again back with Rochdale and they continued to drive forward in attempt to find the winner, and it came on 79 minutes as McIntyre linked up well with Putterill to send home a curling effort.