Dale suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of playoff chasing Coventry City at the Crown Oil Arena.
Jordy Hiwula’s goal midway through the second-half secured all three points for the Sky Blues, along with a fine save from goalkeeper David Stockdale to deny Ian Henderson late on.
There were two changes from last weekend’s win at Walsall. Andy Lonergan, signed during the week on an emergency loan deal from Middlesbrough, came in for the injured Josh Lillis. Zach Clough made his return debut, replacing Rory Holden.
The opening half hour saw very little by way of chances of created for either side, as both teams battled to gain a hold of the game.
There were shouts of a penalty for Dale, when Clough’s cross from the right struck the arm of Brandon Mason, but the officials gave nothing.
Good blocks from Jim McNulty and Callum Camps denied Luke Thomas and Tom Bayliss from distance, whilst Stephen Dooley saw an effort blocked behind at the other end.
Dooley provided an excellent free-kick delivery for Ryan Delaney, who nodded a powerful header narrowly wide, before Jordy Hiwula headed a Thomas cross wide for the visitors.
Hiwula then latched on to a clever chipped ball from Liam Kelly, but struck his volley into the ground and straight at Lonergan.
Ian Henderson tested the handling of David Stockdale shortly before the break with a fierce shot from the edge of the area, before Kelly curled an effort wide from distance for the Sky Blues.
Bradden Inman replaced Clough at the break and he linked up with Dooley to create Dale’s first chance of the half.
They played a clever one-two with Inman seeing a shot blocked. The ball came to the edge of the area where Camps nodded to Andrew, who curled an effort over the crossbar.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell made a good block when Amadou Bakayako touched a Thomas cross goalwards, before Jordan Shipley and Kelly had efforts off target.
The visitors took the lead midway through the period when Hiwula latched on to a flick, drove into the area and dinked an effort beyond Lonergan.
Camps fired a half-volley over in response, before Stockdale produced a fine save to keep out Dale’s best chance with little over ten minutes remaining.
Inman played the ball into the feet of Andrew, who produced a superb flick to find Henderson. He cut back onto his right foot and attempted to place the ball into the far corner, but for the outstretched fingertip of the Coventry goalkeeper.
Dale stopper Lonergan then made a fine save of his own five minutes from time, getting down low to his left to get a strong hand to Thomas’ shot.
Dale pushed for an equaliser in the five minutes of time that were added, but couldn’t find a route to goal, as the visitors held on for all three points.