Dale reignite their momentum as pitch solutions fall into place

 

Harvey Gilmour ran the midfield against Aldershot.

Back in October, I wrote that a defining trait of any good side is its capacity to bounce back. Up until that point, Rochdale AFC had embodied that resilience perfectly, responding to every setback in the most convincing manner possible: with victory.

The trip to York, however, delivered the harshest chastening of the campaign so far. A brutal 15-minute collapse condemned Dale to a 4-1 defeat, the sort of loss that lingers. That made the next fixture against Aldershot − now under the stewardship of former Dale manager John Coleman − a genuine test of their mettle.

Even the build-up carried its own drama. The inflatable pitch covers, brought in by the club’s ownership group to protect the surface from the worst of Storm Claudia, had done their job − though the pitch still resembled more of a cow field than a footballing stage.

It was also one of the fixtures included in the National League’s new 3Up campaign − an initiative I’m fully supportive of, with the greater upward mobility provided by three promotion places only serving to strengthen the entire pyramid.

Jim McNulty made one change to the starting XI, as Connor McBride replaced the injured Tyler Smith. There was also a welcome return to the matchday squad for Joe Pritchard, who had been missing through injury since August.

What followed, however, was a scrappy, disjointed first half on a surface the players never quite managed to decipher. The weight of pass was a guessing game, and yet Dale still found themselves in promising positions in the final third − only for the final ball to fall short or the finishing to lack conviction. It was surprising, too, that Coleman had brought his team to play rather than contain, and the Dale midfield of Harvey Gilmour and Ryan East found themselves pressed in a way they had not been used to on home turf this season.

The second half was a different story. The much-needed substitutions injected not only energy but a noticeable shift in mood. Jake Burger’s brief stint at left wing-back immediately gave Aldershot more to think about, stretching them in ways Dale hadn’t earlier.

Aidan Barlow, just on the pitch and immediately looking sharp, took the ball on the half-turn and slipped a neat pass into Tobi Adebayo-Rowling on the right. The low cross that followed had trouble written all over it, and Gilmour arrived on cue to thump it in from the edge of the six-yard box. And once the breakthrough came, the follow-up changes helped see the game out with a measure of control.

Further up the pitch, both Mani Dieseruvwe and Devante Rodney would have known there is more to come from them. The fact Dale are finding goals from other areas of the team is encouraging, but it shouldn’t lessen the responsibility on their shoulders in games such as this.

Devante Rodney puts the Aldershot defence on the backfoot.

It was heartening, too, to see Ethan Ebanks-Landell shrug off his York nightmare with a return to form. He and Sam Beckwith were excellent throughout.

This team has shown it can win games in all manner of circumstances, and this was another example: a hard-earned victory against an Aldershot side who are surely better than their league position suggests. The win took Dale to 40 points for the season, a figure reached in only 17 games, which beat the previous quickest of 20 games in 2009/10.

A trip to Tamworth the following Saturday was the next competitive action for Dale. The Lambs, while considered one of the National League's smaller sides, occupied ninth spot in the table and had secured a tenth-placed finish the previous season. Their narrow plastic pitch had proven an extra man against many bigger opponents over previous seasons and here it was also wet and slippery thanks to the wintry weather conditions in Staffordshire.

McNulty rang the changes once again with his starting XI. It had been remarked upon after the Aldershot game that, sooner or later, the freshness brought onto the pitch from the bench was going to be needed from the start of a match and, Casey Pettit in particular, had made the strongest case for inclusion from the opening whistle. McNulty gave him that nod here over Ryan East.

Tobi Adebayo-Rowling saw plenty of the ball against Tamworth.

Elsewhere, Devante Rodney had to miss out due to, as McNulty confirmed, the No.10 suffering post-match when playing on an astroturf-type service, so Aidan Barlow joined Connor McBride behind Mani Dieseruvwe. Tarryn Allarakhia returned from international duty to replace Kevin Berkoe, who was recalled from his loan by Salford City earlier in the week.

Kyron Gordon’s third goal of the campaign sent Dale into the interval with a deserved lead, and Dieseruvwe’s coolly dispatched penalty midway through the second half extended their advantage.

The hosts later clawed one back when the defence switched off, setting up a tense finale for the travelling Dale faithful, but McNulty’s side held firm.

The performance, in many respects, was one of the more impressive of the season. Dale's control of the ball − and the speed with which they regained it − was outstanding. The Harvey Gilmour–Pettit partnership shone, a blend of defensive steel and offensive intelligence that gave Dale a platform to build from. Out wide, the wing-backs provided consistent width and a steady stream of deliveries into the box.

And yet, for all that good structure, Dale still relied on Dieseruvwe's penalty to make the difference. Without it, Dale could easily have let points slip. The chances were there − and good ones at that. Barlow, Pettit and Dieseruvwe all had first-half opportunities that really should have resulted in more meaningful efforts on goal. Dale do take shots, despite some narrative to the contrary; the issue was that, at times, they weren't shooting well enough.

The build-up was good, the positions were good, the volume of attacking play was good… but the final touch lacked ruthlessness. Dieseruvwe, even with his goal and a few ‘nearly’ moments, still needed to do more to truly unsettle defenders. Dale were getting the ball into dangerous areas, but not turning that into the kind of scoreline their play deserved.

Defensively, there was plenty to admire. Ebanks-Landell was back to his imperious best and Kyron Gordon was outstanding at both ends of the pitch, his influence far greater than any praise could properly convey. However, the unit as a whole switching off for Tamworth's goal was an avoidable blemish. Still, the bigger question wasn't so much about the back line − it was about how clinical Dale could become at the other end. The York match had shown why Dale had to make the most of their chances; this game showed they were still creating more than enough of them.

Mani D coolly converted his spot kick against Tamworth.

The result put Rochdale back at the top of the National League and, in the grand scheme of things, that was the headline. A crucial away win, three points secured, job done. Yet anyone who watched the game would have known that beneath the satisfaction lay a familiar frustration: Dale creating enough to win matches more comfortably, but not putting teams away when the openings came.

There was then the distraction of the final National League Cup group game before Rochdale could return to league action, with Everton’s under-21s visiting Spotland. Most supporters were watching less for the result and more to see how the pitch coped and, to its credit, the surface held up reasonably well. The night also proved useful in footballing terms, giving Joe Pritchard valuable minutes on his return from injury − capped with an assist − while Bryce Hosannah made his Dale debut. Tom Myles impressed in goal, and Levi Amantchi deservedly took home the man-of-the-match award. In the end, it was Jake Burger who settled the contest with the only goal. Despite the win, Dale exited the competition, though it was a conclusion few were overly concerned about.

Levi Amantchi was MoM against Everton's U-21s.

Ahead of Dale’s next league fixture, the hosting of Eastleigh, the Ownership Group announced it had once again hired inflatable dome pitch covers, no doubt at great expense (reiterating just how much this club would struggle with the involvement of the Ogden family).

The club then issued a further statement that underlined just how precarious the whole situation with the pitch had become. In short: the surface wasn’t just struggling, it was failing. Waterlogging had already wiped out two fixtures, and the deterioration had been so sharp that the club openly admitted what we supporters all suspected – there was “no confidence” in getting through the season without drastic intervention. The inflatable MacLeod covers, useful as they’ve been, were essentially described as a sticking plaster over a much deeper problem.

So, with the surface getting worse by the week, the club had secured permission from the National League to do something rarely seen at this level: a full mid-season pitch rebuild. Not a tidy-up, not a partial relay − a complete strip-down to the drains, installation of new drainage and gravel layers, and the laying of a new profile topped with a HERO hybrid carpet that will be playable immediately. The work, guided by consultants OBI, is expected to take four to five weeks.

It begins straight after the rescheduled Southend game on 7th December, and it means two league fixtures − Hartlepool (30th December) and Brackley (3rd January) − will have to be played elsewhere. The club say they’re in advanced talks over an alternative venue and aim to confirm details before the diggers roll in. The plan is to return to Spotland on 24th January for the visit of Truro City.

The message was clear: this is expensive, disruptive and far from ideal. But with the pitch in its current state, the club believe it’s the only viable route to ensuring the season can be completed properly. And, if all goes to plan, Dale will not only emerge with a playable surface for the run-in, but with a pitch finally capable of matching the ambitions being built on it.

The pre-Eastleigh announcements weren’t done there, either. The club brought in left wing-back Ryan Galvin on loan from last season’s National League winners Barnet. This was a positive move. It gave McNulty three solid options in that position but with the bonus that Joe Pritchard and Tarryn Allarakhia can play in other positions. In a previous blog, I referred to Pritchard as the new Jimmy Keohane and we were about to see more of that.

Tarryn Allarakhia can play in several positions.

In less welcome news, the club then announced that goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff had suffered a quad injury against Tamworth and was facing being on the sidelines into the New Year. To their credit, the club reacted quickly. In came Nathan Broome on a short-term loan from Bolton Wanderers − a 23-year-old with a background shaped by some of the country’s strongest academies. On paper, he looked a smart, agile keeper with the sort of grounding that should allow him to adapt quickly. He was handed the number 25 shirt, and it didn’t take long to see why McNulty had moved quickly to secure him.

So to Eastleigh − another potentially awkward fixture on a pitch deteriorating by the day and with a side forced into changes. Yet Dale began with purpose. Joe Pritchard, starting for the first time since returning from his knee injury, offered intelligence and balance on the left. Ryan Galvin, newly arrived from Barnet, had to wait his turn from the bench, but his presence added further depth to the wing-back options. And then there was Tarryn Allarakhia, who immediately looked like the game’s most dangerous player.

The first half should have yielded more. Dale racked up corners, dominated territory, stretched Eastleigh in every conceivable direction − and still somehow went into the break goalless. Ryan East, restored to the XI at the expense of the impressive Casey Pettit, drifted wide right to great effect, linking superbly with Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Kyron Gordon and Devante Rodney. On the opposite flank, Pritchard and Tarryn Allarakhia knitted with an understanding that felt remarkably natural for a first start together. The balance was good, the patterns flowed, and yet the score stubbornly refused to budge. But for a terrific save from debutant Broome – who looked instantly comfortable with the ball at his feet and calm under pressure – Dale could even have found themselves behind against all logic.

The pressure finally told after the break. Allarakhia, who had tormented Eastleigh all afternoon, got his reward when his driven cross was diverted into the far corner by a defender. From that moment, the only question was how many Dale would win by. The introductions of Connor McBride and Aidan Barlow added fresh energy and further discomfort for a retreating Eastleigh back line, and it was no surprise when Allarakhia added a second – cushioning a volley beautifully into the top corner after another well-worked move down the right.

Celebrating against Eastleigh - a squad together.

Could Dale have scored more? Absolutely. They were dominant and, once again, the only frustration was the familiar one: the scoreline didn’t quite reflect the control. But, in context, the positives far outweigh the nitpicking. A reshuffled side, a debutant goalkeeper, and still Dale played with a level of quality and depth that simply hasn’t been seen at Spotland for years. The winning machine rolled on, and McNulty’s men stayed top of the Enterprise National League table with a fully deserved three points.

The only concern is that Dale’s title rivals are matching them stride for stride, leaving those two games in hand as the only immediate advantage. Making the most of them may well define the entire season.

Many thanks again to The Voice of Spotland/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC for use of images.

Dale seek firmer ground – at home and on the road

Inflatable pitch covers have been deployed.

November’s curtain-raiser for Rochdale AFC was meant to bring yet another clash of first against second. Forest Green Rovers and Carlisle had already been dispatched, their ambitions dimmed by Rochdale’s early dominance. Next in line were Scunthorpe United – surprise contenders whose rapid rise had caught many off guard.

But the drama never arrived. A touch of seasonal rain proved too much for Spotland’s struggling surface, the pitch once again unable to cope with the kind of weather long expected at this time of year. What should have been another night beneath the floodlights became instead a reminder of an enduring problem.

As Rochdale supporters, I don’t think any of us could fault the effort behind the scenes. The club showed that it was doing what it could: the pitch had been covered since the Sunday before, the ground staff had used every machine available – from Terralift to Air2G2 (whatever they are). The detail in the club’s update was reassuring in one sense; there was clearly no lack of activity or intent.

But good intentions don’t guarantee good outcomes. Despite all that work, the playing surface continued to hold water and, once again, we were left wondering whether another home game would survive the weather. When a club openly warns fans that a match may not go ahead, you know the situation has moved beyond “unfortunate” and into “unsustainable.”

Yes, it is true that a referee ultimately decides if a match can proceed, and yes, those unusually mild November temperatures complicated the use of covers. But the fact remained: the pitch was saturated and all those short-term mitigations – the aeration, the pro-coring, the injections of dried seaweed – hadn’t brought us any closer to a permanent fix.

Credit must go to the ground staff for their commitment; they were clearly working flat out. Yet the truth was, no amount of effort could overcome whatever structural limitations are causing our pitch to hold water while other clubs in proximity have no such issues.

In a statement two days after the postponement, Director Jamie Willoughby acknowledged just how serious and complex the situation has become, stressing that the issue “has the 100% focus of the club, the board and the ownership group.” He confirmed that all available options were being explored – even some “extreme” ones that come with “significant technical, logistical and regulatory challenges.” It was encouraging to hear that nothing was being ruled out, and that if a feasible solution could be found, it had the backing of the majority ownership group to proceed.

That commitment has now been matched by short-term action: the club has installed an inflatable dome pitch cover ahead of the Aldershot fixture – the same type used during the FA Cup tie against Spurs in 2018. The raised system is designed to keep the surface sheltered from further rain while allowing the ground staff to continue working underneath. It’s not a long-term solution, as the club itself admits, but it represents a practical step forward – the kind of decisive, visible measure supporters have been waiting to see.

It is time for lasting, decisive action, though – and it seems, finally, that the club is prepared to take it. Whether that means the team playing elsewhere to allow for a full reconstruction, major investment in a modern surface, or a complete overhaul of the drainage infrastructure, the club must move beyond patchwork fixes.

I should add that this is an issue the Ogden family have inherited, not created, and no blame lies with them on that score. But regardless of how we got here – and hopefully one day we’ll have clearer answers on just how we did – Spotland deserves better. The players and coaches deserve better. And so do the supporters who turn up rain or shine.

Devante Rodney gave Dale a deserved lead at Boston.

Thankfully, two away games offered Rochdale a brief escape from their waterlogged woes. The road would call first at mid-table Boston United − a chance, at last, to get back onto a playable surface. However, the postponement against Scunthorpe, coupled with the prior free weekend brought on by their absence from this season’s FA Cup, left many fearing Jim McNulty’s title contenders might lose a touch of rhythm and sharpness. That did show a little in this performance, but not enough to stop Dale’s class and superiority shining through.

McNulty made two changes from Dale’s previous league game. Tarryn Allarakhia and Connor McBride returned to the starting line-up, while Ian Henderson made the matchday squad on the substitutes’ bench in place of Levi Amantchi (who has not been recalled from his loan spell by Walsall, despite rumours circulating to the contrary).

Rochdale dominated the first half, carving out chance after chance that should have put the game to bed early. Allarakhia in particular was proving a menace, cutting in to shoot with his right foot or crossing with his left when shown outside. Shots were blocked, deflected, or hacked off the line as Boston clung on, yet the hosts remained a threat on the break. When goalkeeper Ollie Whatmuff slipped midway through the half, Jordy Hiwula almost punished, dragging wide, and Boston’s movement on the counter kept Dale honest whenever possession broke down.

Still, Dale stuck to their patient build-up, dictating the tempo and forcing Boston ever deeper. The pressure finally told when Devante Rodney rifled into the top corner − a goal that reflected Dale’s control.

The second half began with another big chance for Rodney, who struck the post from a softly-earned penalty that would have doubled the lead. The miss shifted momentum. Boston grew into the game, encouraged by a few shaky moments at the back. Suddenly, the home side’s counters carried more menace, and Rochdale were forced onto the defensive.

Enter substitute Tyler Smith. Since returning to the club, his work rate and intent have been constant − all we’d willed for was an end product, and he finally got the goal his efforts merited, finishing off a slick move from Tobi Adebayo-Rowling’s square ball to make it 2–0. It should have been enough, but Boston refused to fade. After a spell around the Dale box, a cross from Dale’s left wasn’t closed down, and Alex Lankshear − whose name, to my ear, sounds like a Hot Fuzz character’s attempt at “Lancashire” − ghosted in front of the Dale defence to steer it goalwards and pull one back. Whatmuff was insistent the ball hadn’t crossed the line, but the referee gave the goal.

Thankfully, Smith wasn’t finished. Fellow substitute Dan Moss clipped a ball over the top for Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, who brought it down to draw in two defenders before finding Smith in space. He finished clinically with his left foot to seal the points and ensure the scoreline reflected Dale’s superiority – even if the performance itself was less comfortable than the numbers suggest.

Indeed, it wasn’t as smooth or controlled as recent outings. Whatmuff was busier than he’d have liked, and there were a few rare errors from the usually reliable Ethan Ebanks-Landell, but it was still job done, especially as Dale’s title rivals all picked up a maximum elsewhere, reinforcing the fact it would be Dale’s feted games in hand that would make the difference.

Tyler Smith finally got the goals his hard work has merited.

The first of those came just three days later, beneath the glow of York City’s LNER Community Stadium floodlights, on a rain-lashed, breath-clouded Tuesday night − the stage once again set for autumn drama. And drama there was, though not in the way the travelling Dale supporters had hoped.

Instead of providing a reassuring cushion, the game left Dale bruised, humbled 4–1, the scoreline owing less to domination than to a fifteen-minute collapse early in the second half that turned an even contest into a rout.

There had been no hint of the storm to come during the opening exchanges. Dale began brightly, commanding possession and playing largely in York’s half. They avoided the traps set by the hosts − notably the temptation to press goalkeeper Harrison Male, which would have opened up space behind them − and for the first 20 minutes they looked comfortably the better side.

Tyler Smith, starting after his two goals at Boston, had the best of several early chances, racing onto a glorious Sam Beckwith pass over the top. His attempted lob was smartly deflected by Male, who stayed big to make the save. From there, York began to find space out wide, showing real quality with their deliveries, though their finishing initially spared Dale further trouble.

That luck ran out when one such cross finally met the head of Ollie Pearce, the league’s standout striker, who guided it deftly inside the post while Ollie Whatmuff sprawled in vain.

It felt cruel, given Dale’s earlier control − but they struck back almost immediately. Emmanuel Dieseruvwe slid in wing-back Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, who took the ball on the bounce and lashed home with conviction. “Game on,” we thought, as the sides went in level after a fascinating, evenly poised first half.

Unfortunately, Stuart Maynard’s half-time reshuffle for York proved decisive. Powerhouse Josh Stones, now pushed in front of Pearce and Ollie Banks, completely altered the dynamic. Dale’s defence simply couldn’t cope as space opened everywhere. Stones bullied his way to two goals, punishing hesitancy and defensive disarray with ruthless efficiency.

To be fair, there was quality in his finishing − but the defending was alarmingly passive and the response from the bench sluggish; by the time changes arrived, Pearce had added another and the contest was effectively over at 4–1.

I count myself among Jim McNulty’s strongest advocates. His system and this squad have more than justified belief this season, outclassing several of the division’s heavyweights without conceding a goal. But if there is a sliver of criticism, it lies in moments like those fifteen minutes at York.

McNulty is steadfastly committed to his system − and rightly so − but when the tide turns so violently, a change in personnel isn’t always enough. Perhaps earlier introductions − Tarryn Allarakhia for Kevin Berkoe to force Joe Felix deeper, or Dan Moss for Ebanks-Landell with Kyron Gordon moving central − might have stemmed the flow. Yet sometimes, when an opponent has cracked the code, it’s shape, not just substitutions, that must adapt.

Still, this remains a minor grumble. This side has put Dale in an enviable position and earned the faith of us supporters. Dale may currently sit fourth in the National League but are still within easy reach of top spot. Lessons will be learned in time for Aldershot on Saturday − provided, of course, those working on the pitch at Spotland have learned a few of their own.

As always, thanks to TVOS/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC for use of images.

Rochdale’s resilience keeps title charge on track

 

Tyler Smith has the speed, now we want the finish.

If bounce-back-ability really is the mark of a good side, then by mid-October Rochdale were beginning to look like a very good one indeed. Each time Jim McNulty’s men had been knocked off course this season, they responded with purpose − and points. The convincing win over Yeovil Town was no exception, coming just a week after an FA Cup exit at the hands of York City.

It was another performance that reaffirmed Dale’s resilience and stretched their formidable league form to 11 wins from 13 outings. In truth, this was as routine as they come − a composed, measured display that spoke volumes about the maturity and mindset of a team quietly going about its business at the sharp end of the table.

Quite simply, Rochdale produced another professional performance, brushing aside Yeovil with an authority that never required them to shift out of second gear.

There was a notable absentee from the matchday squad as Ethan Ebanks-Landell missed out following the birth of his son earlier in the day − a happy milestone that, fortunately for Dale, did little to unsettle the rhythm of a side increasingly comfortable in its own skin.

From the opening whistle, it was clear Rochdale had too much for their visitors. The first half was a lesson in controlled aggression and sharp, purposeful possession. Yeovil had fleeting spells of early promise − more down to fortune than threat − but were soon penned back by waves of Rochdale pressure. By the interval, the 3-0 scoreline flattered the visitors, with only profligate finishing or bad luck preventing a more emphatic margin.

Rochdale wasted no time asserting their authority, opening the scoring inside five minutes through the ever-reliable Mani Dieseruvwe. But it wasn’t just the finish that stood out − it was the build-up. The move featured a long sequence of passes − across the pitch, sideways and backwards − a patient, probing rhythm that felt like the culmination of years of structured planning. When the gap finally appeared, Kyron Gordon burst in behind on the right and delivered an inch-perfect ball across the box, where Dieseruvwe arrived with poise to tap home his 11th goal of the season from close range. It was another example of Dale’s trademark routine − an outside centre-back crossing for the centre-forward to score − something that looks simple only because of the meticulous repetition behind it on the training ground.

The second was a textbook counter, as Devante Rodney seized space in midfield and surged forward with intent. A slight tactical tweak saw him drift centrally more often, and Yeovil never looked sure who should track him. His perfectly weighted pass carved open the defence, and Dieseruvwe, brimming with confidence, took a single touch before dispatching a clinical finish low into the far corner − an outcome that felt inevitable from the moment the move began.

The third arrived just before the interval, capping a first half of near-total control. Aidan Barlow fed Dieseruvwe, who worked his way through a congested penalty area. Though his path to goal was blocked, the loose ball broke kindly for Ryan East, who made no mistake in steering home his third of the campaign.

After the break, the narrative barely shifted. Rochdale continued to dictate proceedings, carving out chance after chance but failing to convert any of their many opportunities. Yet, such was their command of the match that the result never felt in doubt. The second half became a chance to manage legs and minutes, with several fringe players given valuable time on the pitch − a luxury few sides can afford so routinely.

But if there were any doubts about depth, both Liam Hogan and Tarryn Allarakhia laid them to rest. The latter, in particular, was electric − constantly stretching Yeovil’s shape and offering a dynamic outlet that created space for others. Against more compact or challenging away-day opponents, someone like Kevin Berkoe is key, but Allarakhia’s influence in matches such as this can’t be overstated.

All told, it was another professional performance. Rochdale weren’t just the better side − they dictated every phase of the game and continue to look like a team with more gears yet to shift through.

Next came the trip to Surrey: Dale visited Woking, a club marooned in the lower reaches of the National League, and fans − buoyed by the emphatic dispatching of Yeovil the week before − travelled south in confident mood. Rochdale’s faithful had every reason to believe another commanding performance was in store. And, in many ways, it was. The game was played almost exclusively in one half; a siege met with stubborn defiance. Dale dominated the ball for long spells, but where the swagger and incision of Yeovil had been, there lingered only industry and frustration.

The same moves that sliced through defences a week earlier now faltered in their final act. Crosses fizzed through the six-yard box unclaimed, half-chances skittered wide. The ruthless precision that defined the victory at Spotland was replaced by a chorus of “if onlys”.

Credit, too, to Woking goalkeeper Will Jääskeläinen − agile, alert, and in no mood to oblige Rochdale’s ambitions. In the instances where the visitors were more precise, his interventions denied Dale a lead and ultimately preserved a point for the home side.

Defensively, Rochdale remained composed − perhaps even too composed. The odd Woking counter never looked truly menacing, even if, on reflection, it might have warranted more alarm. Still, this is a side whose back line has conceded only seven times in 14 league outings; assurance, it seems, has become part of the club’s DNA.

The ongoing left wing-back selection remained a point of quiet debate. Here, Kevin Berkoe was restored to the starting line-up but it was substitute Tarryn Allarakhia who once again caught the eye. For the tactical arm-wrestles against promotion contenders − Carlisle, Forest Green, York to come − Berkoe’s more disciplined approach may have its merits. Yet in matches like this, where Dale all but annex the opposition half, it is Allarakhia’s flair, his willingness to drive, cross and improvise, that offers a richer threat. His late deliveries into the box were not only a personal showcase, but a timely reminder to his teammates of the rewards that can come from attacking the air rather than the angles.

In the end, Rochdale were one scrambled goalmouth effort away from another good win. Instead, the ball stayed out, and two points slipped quietly away. Such is football’s familiar cruelty − a game of fine margins and frustrated sighs, where even dominance can feel like defeat. Still, the result means Dale end October at the summit of the National League table with two games in hand on their immediate rivals for the crown.

There was no way through for Mani D at Woking.

The month’s activity wasn’t quite finished there, however, as the much-maligned National League Cup returned to the midweek calendar. This time Dale hosted Manchester United’s fledging side, losing 2-0.

There are evenings in football when the outcome seems almost secondary − when the result itself feels like a footnote. This was one of those nights: a low-key fixture that felt more like a training exercise than a competitive match. With Dale’s fringe players given their chance to impress again, the game drifted by with little of the spark or intensity that had coloured the previous two ties against Premier League 2 sides.

Perhaps that was inevitable. The National League Cup, for all its intentions, struggles to inspire much energy from either the stands or the pitch. The fringe players, many of whom are still learning each other’s rhythms together in a complete XI, demonstrated a tardiness in possession that has been a rare Dale trait under Jim McNulty. It wasn’t disastrous − just oddly flat. It’s hard to take much from the game, beyond a gentle reminder of how tough it can be to find cohesion when minutes are scarce.

Still, there were glimmers worth noting. Casey Pettit, in particular, looked tidy and composed, echoing the promise he showed in pre-season. He remains a player many supporters expected to see more of by now, and performances like this one − gritty but assured − suggest his moment may yet come.

Up front, Tyler Smith worked hard, his pace occasionally unsettling the opposition, but questions linger over whether he offers enough beyond that raw speed. Levi Amantchi too, showed only in flashes what he could offer in this role and was guilty of missing what was perhaps Dale’s best chance on the night. By contrast, when Dale have a striker willing to make clever runs and link play − as we see with Mani Dieseruvwe or saw last season whenever Ian Henderson led the line − the attack seems to hum with greater purpose.

As the rain began to fall, attention turned to another familiar concern: the pitch. The surface, already showing signs of strain, will surely become a talking point again as the winter months close in. The club have promised an update on plans to mitigate the issue “in due course,” but, on nights like this − when the rain slicks the turf and the ball skips unevenly − that promise feels increasingly urgent.

A free weekend now awaits Dale, due to the lack of participation in this year’s FA Cup. It is a welcome break as the coming schedule shows no mercy. Eight matches in 26 days, including the final National League Cup group clash, will push every sinew of this squad. With four consecutive Tuesday nights to navigate, and another England U-19 call-up for Ollie Whatmuff, the coming month will lay bare just how deep Rochdale’s resources truly run.

As always, my thanks to TVOS/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC for use of images.

Between triumph and frustration: Rochdale’s early October balancing act

 

Despite defeat to Halifax, Sam Beckwith has been a standout at the back.

October brought with it not only the copper hues and falling leaves of autumn, but also a first jolt in Rochdale’s relentless charge. The freight train that thundered so irresistibly through Carlisle at September’s end seemed, for the first time, to meet the hoardings. A second league defeat of the campaign, and the first at Spotland, reminded us that even in seasons of promise the track will not always run smooth.

Halifax were the culprits, edging a 2–1 win on an evening where McNulty’s three changes to his starting XI never quite clicked. In hindsight, the omission of Devante Rodney especially gave Dale a different look. Aidy Barlow and Conor McBride buzzed but were too alike in their movements, leaving Halifax’s back line largely untroubled through the first half. The visitors were well-drilled, compact and ruthless when chances came: two looks at goal, two goals scored, Josh Hmami with both. Suddenly, Dale were staring at a mountain.

Only from the 60th minute, with a flurry of substitutions and Rodney restored to the front line, did the familiar Dale intensity return. Rodney halved the deficit with a lovely low curled finish and, from there, wave after wave of pressure finally put Halifax on the back foot. The visitors, previously so composed, began to unravel, and chances flowed. Mani Dieseruvwe saw one ruled out for handball, Tarryn Allarakhia, Ryan East and Kyron Gordon all went agonisingly close, and the equaliser seemed inevitable. Somehow, it never came. Dale finished with the volume and purpose of Carlisle away, but without the freight-train momentum from that start that had defined that performance.

Were the changes costly, and do they appear a mistake in retrospect? Undoubtedly. But even with a few players below their usual standards, Dale still did enough to merit at least a point − that would have been the fair reflection. A larger-than-usual Spotland crowd may have left frustrated, but they were served a fiercely competitive game and, in the final half-hour at least, a proper Dale onslaught. A few of us half expected this defeat pre-match anyway. Halifax always seem to ‘turn up’ at Spotland. I think I’ve seen Rochdale win more times at The Shay than I have on home turf.

The Halifax setback raised questions about balance in attack, and the response from the club was swift. Within days, Dale had bolstered their forward options with the arrival of free-agent Tyler Smith. With a solid EFL pedigree, a family link through brother Kyron Gordon, and past experience both at Rochdale on loan and under coach Jason Taylor at Barrow, Smith brought both quality and familiarity.

He didn’t have long to settle before being thrust straight into the thick of things either. His debut as a substitute came in the most testing of environments: away at Forest Green Rovers, league leaders at kick-off and a side many expect to be in the promotion shake-up come spring. For Rochdale, it was the perfect opportunity to respond to the Halifax result with authority, and to prove once more that their ambitions are not simply to compete with the division’s best, but to outplay them.

And respond they did. Rochdale ultimately secured a vital and hard-fought victory on a tense afternoon that saw them replace their hosts at the summit of the table. The breakthrough came at the perfect moment − on the stroke of half-time − when Gordon powered home a commanding header from a corner, capping off a well-contested first half.

Forest Green Rovers threatened early, with Christian Doidge and Kairo Mitchell combining to force a fine save from Ollie Whatmuff inside the opening minute. That save ultimately proved pivotal. Dale responded with chances of their own, as both Dieseruvwe and Rodney went close. While Rovers were sharper in transition, Dale's more patient build-up play proved equally effective, with both sides enjoying periods of pressure.

The second half saw a shift in tempo, with Dale content to manage the game rather than chase a second. They defended with discipline, showed game management savvy, and embraced the darker arts when needed to frustrate the hosts − a tactic that contributed to a hefty 11 minutes of added time. Despite that, Rochdale remained largely untroubled, and debutant Tyler Smith twice had golden opportunities to put the game beyond doubt late on. Had he converted, it would have marked a special moment with both brothers on the scoresheet.

Still, the result was never in doubt, and the final whistle confirmed a statement win. Impressively, Dale had now beaten each of the three sides directly below them in the standings − away from home and without conceding a goal − a run that underlined their growing credentials as serious promotion contenders.

Kyron Gordon grabbed the all-important winner against FGR.

And while he didn’t score in this particular game, Mani Dieseruvwe’s unerring eye for goal was recognised with the National League’s Player of the Month award for September − his second in succession.

Four goals in three games tell part of the story − braces against both Braintree Town and Carlisle United sealing crucial 2–0 victories − but it was the manner of his performances that truly set him apart. Dieseruvwe led the line with an authority that made Rochdale’s attack feel inevitable; defenders bounced off him, teammates thrived around him, and chances seemed to find him by gravitational pull.

That he followed up August’s accolade with another is testament not only to his consistency but also to the system McNulty has built to get the best from him. And in doing so, Rochdale make a little slice of history: the first club to claim three of the season’s first four monthly awards, after McNulty’s own Manager of the Month nod in August.

But while Dieseruvwe is a new arrival and a symbol of McNulty’s willingness to evolve, there’s an equal emphasis on stability running through this squad. That balance between renewal and continuity was neatly captured as Ryan East and Harvey Gilmour each marked their 100th appearances for the club − milestones that speak to the steady core underpinning Rochdale’s progress.

That sense of continuity offered reassurance amid the constant churn of the season − and it wasn’t long before the focus shifted again. A brief diversion from league duty as Rochdale welcomed fellow National League contenders York City to Spotland in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup.

By this point, it was becoming clear that injuries weren’t the only threat to McNulty’s carefully balanced squad − international recognition had joined the list. Remarkably, Dale lost players to both hemispheres: Tarryn Allarakhia received a call-up for Tanzania's World Cup Qualifier action, while first-choice goalkeeper Ollie Whatmuff earned a place in the England U19 squad for a pair of friendlies. It was the latter’s absence that would tell most immediately, with Rochdale confirming the loan signing of goalkeeper Jackson Smith, the 23-year-old joining on a short-term deal from Barnsley, bringing fresh EFL experience and assurance between the posts.

Playing what many believe to be Dale’s strongest XI against a York outfit who themselves made only two changes probably contributed to what unfolded − a tense, tactical battle where neither side seemed willing to overcommit. York’s shape mirrored Rochdale’s almost perfectly, and their patience in possession was rewarded by moments of discomfort at the back. Twice, errors in defence forced Jackson Smith into important debut saves that spared Dale from falling behind before the break.

After the restart, a stunning strike from former Dale man Alex Newby punctured the rhythm of the contest and highlighted a recurring weakness − a lack of presence outside the box at set pieces. Dale didn’t learn from it in the 90, though one suspects they will for the future. Yet, amid the frustration, there were encouraging signs. A shift in shape following a raft of substitutions saw Dieseruvwe joined up front by Levi Amantchi, with Tyler Smith and McBride offering width and Gilmour left to anchor the midfield alone − a task he handled admirably. The changes brought renewed energy, culminating in a deserved equaliser and a spell where Dale looked the likelier side to progress.

However, the next wave of substitutions unsettled the balance once more − a point McNulty himself acknowledged afterwards. The resulting York winner from Newby, again from outside the box and one Smith will feel he could have done better with, was perhaps a fair outcome on the balance of play. The visitors looked one of the most complete and composed sides Dale have faced this season, and their performance carried the air of a genuine contender.

Among the individual performances, Kevin Berkoe again proved a dependable presence down the left, steady and diligent in his defensive work. Yet for all his reliability, Dale lost a degree of dynamism on that flank. Our opponents learned that by pinning him back as a full-back, they effectively nullified Rochdale’s attacking threat on that side. The knock-on effect was felt by Beckwith, whose natural instinct to drive forward and overlap was stifled without a more adventurous partner ahead of him – something Tarryn Allarakhia, for instance, provides instinctively. It’s not a criticism of Berkoe’s application, but rather a reflection of how fine the margins are in personnel, where balance and bravery in wide areas so often dictate the tempo of Dale’s play. Perhaps it is the greatest illustration of how much we miss the injured Joe Pritchard, who possesses the complete balance for such games.

Anyway, a dress rehearsal for when the two meet in the league perchance, with Dale having some definite adjustments to make.

As always, thanks to TVOS/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC for use of photos.

Storms, statement wins and a side coming of age

 

Spotland: Wetter than a haddock's bathing costume.

Two games to end September, two very different challenges, and Rochdale rose to both. First came the sparkle of a four-goal dismantling of Solihull, then the authority of a clinical win away at promotion rivals Carlisle. McNulty’s side look every inch contenders, blending movement, control and belief into performances that carry real weight. Long may the form continue – and long may the pitch beneath them hold firm.

Torrential rain may have been the deciding factor as to why the Southend game cannot be added to the above list but, for Rochdale AFC, the issue runs deeper than a saturated surface. The call-off was a reminder − not just of the elements, but of a longer-standing problem at Spotland.

Postponements like this, in any greater frequency, risk disrupting first-team rhythm and results, and threaten to create the kind of spring fixture congestion we saw last season, when a string of winter postponements left Rochdale cramming crucial games into the very period where clear heads and steady form are most valuable.

Supporter reaction has, understandably, been mixed. Some rightly point to the context: the Ogden family have already injected millions into the club, with more to come. For a team at this level, finding an estimated £1.5 million to fully resolve the pitch issue isn’t a simple decision − especially when millions have already been committed and stadium plans were still in flux earlier this summer.

And those arguments carry weight. This isn’t an easy fix. The pitch covers brought in instead can only go so far − especially with a high-water table and the kind of deluge seen before the Southend game. This is the North West though − downpours aren’t exactly a shock, even if this particular torrent was abnormal for September.

Behind the scenes, the effort to get the game on was committed, if ultimately futile. By 3pm, more than 20mm of rain had fallen in a torrential burst that overwhelmed already saturated covers. Volunteers worked tirelessly with moppers but, as puddles reformed behind them, it became clear that only industrial equipment − a ride-on vacuum system, for example − could have made any real difference. Those who showed up gave everything. But, without such tools, even a bigger group may not have changed the outcome.

As one voice put it: “Who says we didn’t do all we could?” That frustration is fair. No one doubts the effort behind the scenes.

But effort alone won’t stop this from becoming a real problem. When a squad has been competitively assembled to challenge, the last thing anyone wants is to see that momentum threatened by a playing surface that simply can’t cope. It begins as an annoyance. It ends up feeling like an unnecessary handicap.

This isn’t a new issue. Certain areas of the Spotland pitch have long struggled with even modest rainfall − let alone the kind of monsoon that rolled in the previous weekend. To be fair, the board themselves were upfront in the summer: without a full rebuild, there was always going to be a risk of difficulties once the rain returned.

The drainage issues long predate the Ogdens’ tenure, of course, and earlier remedial work has never offered a lasting solution. Until now, a dry start to the season has papered over the cracks. But when the referee drops a ball in the centre circle of a pitch that has been covered, and watches it stick, then aquaplane and stop dead, the decision becomes inevitable. The area in front of the Sandy Lane End was even worse.

Quite how so much water managed to find its way beneath the covers is a question left hanging in the air for now.

You can't help but worry that, once again, we may be gambling with form. There’s also a psychological side that shouldn’t be underestimated. Games in hand may look like an advantage on paper, but players rarely see it that way − a table that shows Rochdale sitting lower than their performances deserve can nag at confidence until those points are physically earned.

And it’s not just players affected. Southend fans made the trip this time − only to head home early. Last season, Boston supporters were twice turned around mid-journey. These aren’t isolated events. They chip away at the club’s reputation. And, like it or not, that’s how ‘tinpot’ labels start to stick − even if they’re unfair.

To be clear, this isn’t about undermining the owners. Their financial support has been transformational − and, frankly, lifesaving. But delaying the pitch work could still come at a cost, especially if this winter proves as wet as most. Fixture congestion, momentum lost − none of it helps. Of course, we might get lucky: the covers and the regime for implementing them could hold, and Dale may lose no more games to the weather than any other club in the depths of winter. At this stage, though, it’s impossible to say.

This isn’t scapegoating. It’s about being realistic. A side with real promise shouldn’t be tripped up by the turf beneath their boots. If the work is coming in 2026, good − but let’s hope the wait doesn’t end up being the difference between a successful season and a missed opportunity.

For fans starved of their football fix, it was meant to be the main course. Two top sides, live on TV, a proper Saturday night under the lights − the kind of fixture you mark in the calendar with a thick red circle.

Instead, nothing. No football, no drama, just the hollow thud of frustration and a reminder that even in the slick world of modern football, some things remain stubbornly unpredictable.

But amid the grumbling − and there was plenty − it’s worth pausing to remember where we were just 18 months ago. No lights, no cameras, no certainties. Teetering on the brink, unsure whether there’d even be a club to support the next week, never mind prime-time showdowns to complain about.

None of this eases the disappointment for those who made plans, booked travel, or simply wanted to see two proper sides go at it. But perspective doesn’t dampen frustration − it reminds us why it matters.

Levi Amantchi filled the No.9 boots against Solihull.

Mercifully, a referee’s inspection two days later confirmed the Spotland turf fit for Tuesday’s clash with Solihull Moors, ensuring Dale’s inaction stretched to only one game – and there was no sign of the disruption curtailing form as the visitors were dispatched four goals to one in yet another dominant and convincing performance from McNulty’s players.

Despite hot-shot No.9 Emmanuel Dieseruvwe serving a one-match suspension, three goals inside the opening 20 minutes effectively settled the evening. The head coach’s decision to push Ryan East further forward, leaving Harvey Gilmour to anchor midfield alone at times, gave Dale an extra runner that Solihull simply couldn’t pick up. The switch in shape caught the visitors cold, and in East Dale found the unexpected spearhead of that first-half storm. Twice he arrived late in the box, timing his runs with the precision of a seasoned finisher akin to Bryan Robson, and twice he converted − his first goals of the season, both the product of fluid, purposeful moves. Devante Rodney added the third, and by then the visitors were scrambling for answers, reshuffling conspicuously just to stem the tide.

Even after the interval, with the game already won, the patterns of play remained. Dale’s commitment to circulation − recycling possession patiently when no forward ball is on − was evident, but so too was the movement that makes those passes count when confidence is high. The fourth goal was a perfect example: sharp interplay carved open space down the left, Sam Beckwith arriving to sweep home his first of the campaign with his weaker foot. Solihull pulled one back as their improvement finally told, but it barely registered. The damage had long been done.

What lingered was less the scoreline than the manner of it. The football was slick, incisive, a step beyond some of the more efficient wins that had preceded it. The first half in particular will live longer in the memory − a reminder that, on nights like these, this Dale side can dazzle as well as dominate.

Yet the sternest examination of the season so far was still to come. With Southend washed away by postponement, Rochdale’s first true meeting with a fellow National League heavyweight instead arrived at Brunton Park against Carlisle. A strong travelling contingent of Daleys braved the elements, huddled together on the blustery, exposed Petteril terrace, ready to see just how far this side had really come. Dale entered the clash sitting second in the table with Carlisle just behind in third, the Cumbrians still smarting from a midweek mauling by promotion rivals York City − a bruising setback that left them dangerous, wounded and desperate to respond.

The question, asked all season, was whether Dale could ‘do it’ on a Saturday afternoon at the likes of Carlisle. The answer came swiftly and emphatically: yes. Emmanuel Dieseruvwe struck twice in a 2–0 win that made it six National League victories on the spin, a performance as authoritative as it was impressive.

The tone was set inside six minutes. Sam Beckwith’s overlapping run on the left pulled Carlisle’s back line apart, the ball cut back into the path of Dieseruvwe, who bullied it over the line under pressure from Carlisle keeper Breeze. From that moment, Dale played with the conviction of a side that believed they belonged at this level’s summit. Carlisle tried to match up but were repeatedly undone by the movement of Devante Rodney, Connor McBride and Ryan East buzzing around a spearheading Dieseruvwe. Harvey Gilmour, again imperious at the base, dictated tempo, while both wide centre-backs pressed high to support the wing-backs and suffocate the home side’s attempts to build.

Mani D just cannot stop scoring.

If anything, the only frustration was that the scoreline remained slender for so long. Rochdale carved out chance after chance in a sparkling first half that might have yielded four or five with sharper finishing. When the second finally arrived on 56 minutes, it was worth the wait: Dieseruvwe received the ball from Rodney as he ran into space, driving it low into the bottom corner with a finish of pure authority and the composure of a man who now expects to score with every shot taken. It was the strike that broke Carlisle’s resistance, and it wrapped the game as a contest.

What followed was maturity. Rather than overextend, Dale managed the game with a calm assurance that belied the conditions. They dropped off when required, absorbed pressure without panic and used their substitutions to add solidity and fresh legs. It was intelligent, confident football: an away performance that combined incision with control.

By the time the final whistle sounded, it was hard to avoid the sense that this was a statement win. To leave Brunton Park with three points, and to do so feeling faintly disappointed it wasn’t by a wider margin, says much about the standards McNulty’s men are setting. Carlisle and their illustrious manager had been tactically out-thought and thoroughly outplayed. For Rochdale, it was not just another victory − it was evidence, against a direct rival, that this side are the real deal.

Dale fans (even this one) left Brunton Park delighted.

As always thanks to The Voice of Spotland/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC for use of photos.

Resilient Rochdale march on, but talisman’s suspension will test their depth

 

Devante Rodney in action against Braintree.

Rochdale head into mid-September perched proudly at the top of the National League table, their only blemish the ill-fated rotation gamble at Brackley.

Nine wins from ten in all competitions have blended fluency with resilience, delivering both entertainment and efficiency. What has emerged is a side not simply riding momentum but forging an identity: disciplined at the back, flexible in approach and propelled by the relentless goals of Emmanuel Dieseruvwe. For all the usual cautions about early-season form, Dale could hardly have hoped for a firmer platform.

They began the month in style. Naming an unchanged side for the visit of Braintree, Rochdale played with purpose from the outset. Most of the early threat came down the right, where Aidy Barlow orchestrated attacks and twice supplied Dieseruvwe with headed chances that were directed too close to the goalkeeper.

It took a rare foray down the opposite flank to unlock the visitors. Tarryn Allarakhia swung in a superb cross that the prolific No.9 guided home with trademark precision. His second arrived soon after, a neat exchange with Tobi Adebayo-Rowling ending with another composed finish. At that stage Braintree were reeling, and Dale might reasonably have felt aggrieved not to be four or five ahead by the interval.

The visitors, to their credit, rallied after the break. A couple of substitutions and a greater willingness to contest the game higher up the pitch gave them a foothold in midfield that they retained for much of the half. Rochdale, though, defended with authority, Ethan Ebanks-Landell again outstanding, with the side still carrying a late threat through substitute Connor McBride.

The final whistle confirmed the 2-0 victory and another three points, the type of fixture Dale simply must take care of if they are to sustain their ambitions. It was also one that provided ample entertainment for the Spotland crowd. Jim McNulty’s side were, at this stage, delivering everything asked of them.

Momentum only grew in the days that followed, as Rochdale’s record-breaking start to the season drew wider recognition. Under McNulty’s guidance they had played seven games, winning six, collecting 18 points and scoring 15 goals. At the heart of it all was Dieseruvwe, whose seven goals in seven matches gave the side a cutting edge so often absent in recent seasons.

The numbers spoke for themselves. Five consecutive home wins in all competitions from the start of a season − the first time since 1985/86, and only the fourth occasion in the club’s history. Four straight league victories at Spotland to open a campaign − again the first since that same season, and just the seventh overall. Most striking of all, 18 points from the opening seven league fixtures: a new Rochdale record, eclipsing the 17-point returns of 1991/92 and 2001/02.

The accolades duly followed. McNulty was named National League Manager of the Month for August, while Dieseruvwe’s irrepressible form earned him Player of the Month. It was a month of milestones that underlined just how far, and how quickly, the mood around the club had shifted from the despondency of last season’s play-off defeat.

The challenge then was to carry that form on the road, beginning with a daunting 345-mile journey to face Truro City. The Cornish side, new to the division and second bottom at the time, looked on paper the ideal opponents. The question was whether Dale could turn expectation into execution.

As it transpired, they could. The trip yielded another three points, though not without its tests. In the first half Rochdale repeatedly found pockets of space in the final third, areas from which they might have punished Truro more ruthlessly. Barlow’s positional freedom again caught the eye, his ability to drift creating new avenues of attack. It was, however, a slightly scruffy goal that gave Dale the lead. In the 12th minute, Ryan East’s corner caused chaos, Kyron Gordon hauled down as goalkeeper George Stone was caught in the melee. Even grounded, Gordon stayed alive to the moment, rising just enough to nod the loose ball over the line from close range. Had Dieseruvwe then converted what, by his standards, was a simple chance, the contest might have been put to bed as swiftly as Braintree a week earlier.

Instead, the second half brought complications. A blend of blustery conditions and sloppy passing left Rochdale struggling to retain possession. In isolation it was probably their poorest 45 minutes of the season on the ball, the basics of control and distribution too often going awry. Some of that could be put down to the wind and Truro's changes, yet the decision to go long from goal kicks also reflected a growing adaptability in McNulty’s side − a willingness to adjust when conditions demanded it.

What did not falter was the defensive structure. Organised, resolute and calm under pressure, Dale limited Truro to half-chances, leaving goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff to do little more than marshal his area with authority. There was no panic, no sense of fragility – just a collective assurance that has become increasingly tangible. Against stronger sides that resolve will be tested more severely, but embedding such an attitude early feels an important step in Rochdale’s development.

Harvey Gilmour drives through the Truro midfield.

The only blemish on the trip came when Dieseruvwe collected his fifth yellow card of the campaign. The caution brings a one-match suspension under league rules and will deprive Rochdale of their in-form striker for their next vital league outing. Given the rhythm he has found in front of goal, his absence will be felt, though it will also offer an early glimpse of how McNulty’s side can adapt without their focal point.

Dieseruvwe will not be the only enforced absentee. Injuries have begun to bite, particularly at left wing-back, where summer signing David Tutonda faces four to six weeks out after a training setback. Joe Pritchard, so impressive before his knock against Sutton, also remains sidelined. The club has chosen a conservative, non-surgical path in his recovery, though a further assessment in six weeks will decide whether an operation − and a much longer absence − becomes unavoidable. To plug the gap, McNulty has turned to the loan market, bringing in Kevin Berkoe from Salford City. His arrival provides short-term cover, but the situation serves as a reminder of how quickly even an increased squad depth can be stretched across a long campaign.

The National League Cup brought another opportunity to rotate, and Rochdale duly made it two wins from two in the competition with a 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers' Under-21s. A much-changed XI again took the field, but the evening carried a welcome twist in the return of Matty Done. Now part of McNulty’s coaching staff, the 37-year-old was pressed back into action for what became his fourth playing spell at the club.

Dale began brightly, Connor McBride continuing his impressive run of form by finishing off a well-constructed move. His sharpness and composure in front of goal with each chance he is given seems to enhance his case for greater involvement in the league side − a dilemma McNulty may soon be glad to have.

While the forwards seemed to be having joy, the defensive reshuffles left gaps, and Blackburn twice took advantage of some passive defending to turn the game around and lead at the break. The response came after the interval. Anthony Gomez-Mancini, lively once again, levelled with his first goal for the club after neat interplay down the left. His replacement after injury, Jake Burger, proved just as effective, bustling into space to apply the finish that secured the win.

Two sterner league examinations now await to close out September, with Southend and Carlisle lying in wait, Solihull Moors sandwiched between. Together they promise the clearest gauge yet of how far Rochdale have travelled since last season, when too often the bigger occasions brought flatter performances. That judgment is not without nuance − Dale did take 16 points from fellow play-off contenders Altrincham, Halifax and Gateshead − but it was the 4-0 home reverses to Barnet and York that linger most painfully, suggesting a side too respectful of opponents they ought to have treated as equals. The hope now is for a more assertive account, one that reflects the confidence this start has instilled.

David Tutonda is out for up to six weeks.

As always, many thanks to The Voice of Spotland/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC for use of images.