Rochdale were back in league action with a trip down to 2nd place Wycombe Wanderers and were one rash challenge and literally seconds away from bringing back a point.

Dale had taken the lead through the G.O.A.T, Ian Henderson, but hadn’t managed to keep hold of the lead for long but a stoppage time penalty cruelly gifted Wycombe the win.

I don’t know why we try and give injury news and team selection possibilities when we have so many injuries on a weekly basis. Sanchez, Camps, Morley, Rathbone, McLaughlin and Baah all missed out through injury while Wilbraham didn’t travel due to his Mother’s funeral. We did, however, welcome back Paul McShane to the starting line up while there was a very rare start for Calvin Andrew as well. McNulty and Magloire made it back on the bench after spells out and the forgotten man Josh Lillis made it onto the bench, no doubt only because we couldn’t recall Wade from a month’s loan at Ramsbottom.

So, Dale lined up with Lynch in net, a back four of Matheson, O’Connell, McShane and Norrington-Davies. In midfield were MJ, Ryan, Dooley and Keohane with Andrew and Hendo up front.

Dale seemed to start off well and with 8 minutes gone, Henderson chipped an effort goalwards but it narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Jimmy Ryan got on the end of punched clearance from Allsop and hit a good looking shot but the keeper pushed it wide.

With 19 minutes on the clock, Dale were ahead, through that man Henderson. A pass back to Allsop in the Wycombe net was chased down by Henderson and Allsop’s awful clearance rebounded straight back off Henderson and into the back of the net. A great start.

Charles went close for the home side minutes later with a looping header than went over the bar.

Hendo had another effort when he got on the end of a good Matheson cross but his effort was saved by Allsop.

A couple of minutes later and Wycombe were level. MJ only half challenged their lad on the edge of the box before the ball went out wide and McCarthy’s cross wasn’t closed down by Norrington-Davies and somehow looped over Lynch into the back of the net to make it 1-1.

With just a few minutes to go before half time, Dale had a glorious chance to retake the lead when a corner was met by Calvin Andrew 6 yards out and his header went predictably wide when it looked more difficult to miss. Calvin hasn’t scored in over 13 months!

The scores were level at the break.

Akinfenwa had a back post header well blocked by Andrew despite the striker’s cries for handball and a penalty.

McShane had a good chance when Ryan chipped a ball in but McShane’s header was straight at the keeper.

Akinfenwa had the next great chance. Tavares, who had come on for Ryan at this point, hit a fresh air kick on the touch line allowing Wycombe to cross and the ball found its way to the beast and his effort was brilliantly blocked by McShane and went over for a corner.

The killer blow came in stoppage time, 94th minute to be precise. Paul Smyth ran with the ball into the box, Matheson followed him before his inexperience showed and he dived in and didn’t get the ball. It was a clear penalty and a massive mistake from the young lad who was visibly upset. Joe Jacobson made no mistake from the spot sending Lynch the wrong way.

Absolutely gutting because I don’t think we deserved that. Thankfully the other results went for us mainly, with the exception of AFC Wimbledon. Dale remain 6 points outside the drop zone with Gillingham at home next week which now become a very big game.

Photo: Action Images

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