Jim McNulty steered Dale to a 1-0 win away at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Danny Lloyd’s goal midway through the second-half proved to be the difference, as Dale picked up three points in McNulty’s first game of his interim spell in charge.
He made one change from last weekend’s defeat at Crawley Town, as Liam Kelly came in for Toby Mullarkey, who left that game with concussion.
The Interim Manager moved to a back four, with Jimmy Keohane at right-back and a midfield pairing of Ethan Brierley and Kelly, with Danny Lloyd and D’Mani Mellor wide. Ian Henderson and Abraham Odoh started through the middle.
Dale had a lot of the ball in the early stages, but it took 15 minutes for the first shot of the game, which came from the hosts, as Aaron Pierre’s strike was well blocked by Kelly.
Armani Little fired narrowly over from the edge of the area, before Henderson was close to getting on the end of a Kelly cross after a Dale short corner.
Owen Dodgson sent an effort from 25-yards off target, before Richard O’Donnell was called into action for the first time, saving efforts from Will Nightingale and Ethan Chislett.
Little sent the final effort of the half well off target from 25-yards, and after the break substitute Sam Pearson saw a strike well deflected over by Max Taylor.
Dale broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. After a neat passing move which involved Brierley, Mellor found Lloyd on the right, who cut inside onto his left foot and fired into the far bottom corner.
Lloyd was then replaced by Scott Quigley less than ten minutes later.
Ethan Chislett and Little sent efforts off target but O’Donnell’s goal was never really troubled, as Dale defended resolutely.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell put in a superb block to deflect another Pearson effort behind, whilst O’Donnell made a strong save from Isaac Ogundere in stoppage time.
Sam Graham came on for Mellor late on, before Dale goalkeeper O’Donnell then made a big claim of a cross with the last action of the game, as McNulty’s side came away with all three points.
Dale XI | O’Donnell, Keohane, Taylor, Ebanks-Landell, Dodgson, Brierley, Kelly, Lloyd, Mellor, Odoh, Henderson.
Subs | Eastwood, Seriki, Ball, Graham, Quigley, Diagouraga, John.