Jim Bentley labelled Dale’s two debutants as excellent after their performances in Saturday’s game against Carlisle United.
D’Mani Mellor and Owen Dodgson, who both only joined the club on Friday, started and played the full 90 minutes at the Crown Oil Arena.
Mellor, on loan from Wycombe Wanderers, was awarded the sponsor’s Man of the Match, whilst Dodgson, on loan from Burnley, impressed on his first professional start.
“I thought the two new lads were excellent – I’ve got to be honest,” said Bentley.
“D’Mani worked extremely hard and had one opportunity around the back stick in the second-half. He looks like he’s going to be okay for us.
“With Owen, you can just see he looks a top-class young player at a very good club in Burnley. The decisions he makes on the ball, he’s athletic, he gets up and down, he’s got good quality.
“I was dying for him to score when he chopped in on his right foot towards the end, to put it in the bottom corner. That’s his league debut.
“I thought they were two real positives. They’re two lads who have come in with a smile on their face and have plenty of energy about them. They’re the type of players that reflect us as a staff and certainly as a football club.
“They can both be very proud of their efforts today.”
Hear more from Bentley on Saturday's game, plus plans for the final three days of the January transfer window.