Rochdale went down 2-0 at home to Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
First half goals from Chuks Aneke and Deji Oshilaja secured the victory for the visitors to the Crown Oil Arena.
There were three changes to the side that lined up against Bristol Rovers last weekend, as Ryan McLaughlin, Eoghan O’Connell and Kwadwo Baah came in for Jimmy Keohane, Matty Done and Alex Newby. It was a welcome return to the squad for the Dale Captain, who had been out with a hamstring injury since the start of last month.
The Addicks opened the scoring early on, as Aneke broke the deadlock after seven minutes. He received the ball with his back to goal before turning and striking low into the far corner.
Six minutes later and Ollie Rathbone got an important head onto a goal bound Liam Millar shot, diverting it onto the bar and behind for a corner.
Charlton doubled their advantage shortly before the half hour mark.
Gavin Bazunu had initially produced a great save to deny a Jayden Stockley point blank header, but Oshilaja nodded home on the follow up.
A short time later the Addicks were kept out by the woodwork for a second time, when Aneke’s shot was deflected off the far post.
Aaron Morley sent a diagonal ball out to Kwadwo Baah on the left after cutting inside, the young forward fired an effort over the bar.
Before the half was out, Bazunu got down low to see away an Andrew Shinnie from 20-yards, while Stockley headed over from a corner at the back post.
HT | ROCHDALE 0-2 CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Clear cut opportunities were at a premium for both sides as the two defences stood firm in the second half, but Rochdale were much improved.
The first two substitutions of the game came on the hour, when Newby and Done replaced Stephen Dooley and Haydon Roberts, respectively.
With 67 minutes on the clock Ben Amos in the Charlton goal had to claw away a Morley corner off the line as it looked to be curling in the at the near post.
Another double substitution followed a minute later. Deadline day signing Conor Grant made his debut, replacing Rathbone, while Keohane came on for McLaughlin.
Aneke fired an effort wide of the upright from inside the area, before Rochdale made a fifth and final change, with Gabriel Osho making way for debutant Jack Vale.
Stephen Humphrys stung the palms of Amos, who collected at the second attempt, while, up the other end, Bazunu was out well at the feet of Millar to keep out his close race effort.
Late on, the Charlton ‘keeper held a Humphrys header, before he struck narrowly wide of the target in stoppage time.
FT | ROCHDALE 0-2 CHARLTON ATHLETIC