Dale were beaten 3-1 on Saturday, losing to Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.
Despite Callum Camps’ early goal, Burton scored three goals courtesy of Ryan Edwards, followed by a Lucas Akins penalty and then a Liam Boyce strike, ensuring all three points for the Brewers.
The first chance of the match went the way of Dale, and it was the breakthrough, with Camps volleying home following a Rekeil Pyke flick on.
Burton went close when Liam Boyce headed the ball down to Scott Fraser whose shot was expertly blocked by Eoghan O’Connell.
The hosts got their equaliser when Colin Daniel’s cross was scuffed by Boyce, falling kindly for Edwards to finish from close range.
Akins did well to hold the ball up, before laying off to Fraser who shot well over the bar.
The home side were given the chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty – when O’Connell was adjudged to have tripped Daniel as he broke into the Dale box.
Akins stepped up and made no mistake, slamming the ball into the roof of the net.
Oliver Sarkic then found space down the right, but his shot lacked power and was easily held by Sánchez.
Stephen Dooley was introduced following an injury to Ollie Rathbone, and Dooley went close when his deflected effort landed in the hands of Kieran O’Hara in the Burton goal.
Shortly before half-time, Jimmy Keohane fizzed a ball across the Burton goal, but it was just too out of reach of the onrushing Dale forwards.
Into the second half, Boyce threatened again for Burton when his left-footed shot stung the palms of Sánchez, before the Spaniard gathered at the second attempt.
Rhys Norrington-Davies found space down the left, before crossing exquisitely to Pyke, who couldn’t hit the target with a header from close range.
Sánchez once again denied Boyce, with a superb save down to his left, following a glancing header.
Dale went close following a corner, when Matty Done’s effort clipped the crossbar before going behind.
The woodwork denied Dale once more, when Keohane’s low strike from the edge of the area cannoned back out off the post.
Burton went close to grabbing a third when Joe Sbarra fired over after the ball fell to him following an Akins cross.
Minutes later, Burton did score a third and it was Boyce who got it, nicking the ball past O’Connell before his shot squirmed its way through the hands of Sánchez.
Dale almost pulled a goal back through Aaron Wilbraham, his sliced volley going wide.
Brian Barry-Murphy’s men are next in action against Fleetwood Town at the Crown Oil Arena on Boxing Day (26th of December 3pm K.O), with ticket details available HERE.