A superb Callum Camps strike sent Dale through to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 victory over Mansfield Town.
Camps struck in the 17th minute with a fine curling effort from distance, whilst Kgosi Ntlhe and Ollie Rathbone struck the woodwork in a second half which saw Josh Lillis save a Danny Rose penalty in the final ten minutes.
There were four changes from Saturday’s opener at Portsmouth. Joe Rafferty, Niall Canavan, Matty Done and Jordan Williams all started, with the latter making his debut for the Club.
The first chance fell to the debutant, when he headed over Camps’ right-wing cross inside the first minute.
Paul Anderson had the hosts’ first effort, but was denied by the feet of Josh Lillis. It proved to be an important save, as Camps fired Dale ahead with a stunning strike four minutes later.
A corner was headed away at the near post as far as the Dale Vice-Captain, and he took a touch before curling a wonderful effort into the top corner from 25 yards.
Done was eager to open his account in his third spell with the Club, latching onto a ball over the top before cutting inside, but he sent his shot wide of the far post.
Former Dale loanee Will Atkinson was a post’s width away from equalising just before the half hour mark, when he fired an incredible volley off the inside of the far post.
In a strong spell for the hosts, Jimmy Spencer picked up a loose square ball from Kgosi Ntlhe and drove forward, but fired a low shot wide.
However, Dale were soon back on top and finished the half strongly. Camps had a shot deflected from the edge of the area, before a good passing move led to Williams having an effort comfortably held.
Done’s eyes lit up when Ian Henderson’s cross seemed to be on a plate for a close-range header, before Bobby Olejnik clawed the ball away.
Anderson had a shot blocked from close range after Lillis had tipped away a deep cross, which allowed Dale to break through Camps. He drove across the halfway line and beat his man to find space, but dragged his shot well wide.
The hosts created the first few chances of the second half, when Atkinson and Omari Sterling-James both fired wide of the target. Sterling-James then did well to get into the area on right side, but his shot was deflected into the arms of Lillis.
Ntlhe struck the woodwork for Dale when his cross deceived Olejnik and almost drifted in, before bouncing clear of danger.
Williams was replaced by Steven Davies in the 65th minute with Dale’s first change, and he was involved in a move which led to Ollie Rathbone firing a sweet drive off the outside of the post.
Bradden Inman replaced Done with ten minutes remaining, but just two minutes later it was Lillis at the other end who was called into action.
Canavan was deemed to have fouled substitute Danny Rose inside the area. Rose stepped up to take the penalty, but was denied by the legs of Lillis when he fired down the middle.
Despite the penalty miss, the Stags continued to push for an equaliser, but only a Krystian Pearce sliding effort from a deep corner breached Dale’s resolute defending.
Calvin Andrew replaced Ntlhe in the first of three minutes added time, and he had the last touch of the game when he superbly headed away a corner which was aimed for Mansfield stopper Olejnik at the death.
Dale advance to round two of the Carabao Cup, with the draw to be made on Thursday evening.