Jim Bentley says Saturday was an opportunity to take three points missed.
Dale drew 1-1 at Crewe Alexandra but had chances to win the game at the Mornflake Stadium.
The gaffer commented: “When the opposition go down to ten and you get the opportunity that we did in the final seconds, you think you’re going to get a 2-1 win.
“We came here fully believing we can win, like we do every game. I thought we started well and people can say what they want about luck, but when that ball hits the crossbar after 30 seconds, you’re thinking just drop for someone.
“I thought we were well on top in the first half, but in the second-half, with a bit of a wind behind our opponents, they had us camped in a bit.
“We made the decision to put Quigley on to help us get up the pitch. But with their goal we can do better. We’re beaten too easy down our left and their wing-back, who is about five foot ten, gets a free header.
“We’ve got enough people back there to deal with it, but it’s a free header and in the back of our net.
“We kept going, we kept plugging away and we got the goal. Toby Mullarkey, who I thought was excellent again, puts a great ball into the box and we score.
“Even after their sending off we were making poor decisions and letting them break us, kill the game. We kept going and we had a massive opportunity at the end to win.
“It’s a point, but with the position we’re in at the minute, we needed three, so it’s an opportunity missed in that regard.”
Watch Bentley’s full post-match interview below via our YouTube channel.