Another home game, another defeat, another game without a goal and Dale are staring League Two in the face. This despite a better first half than we've seen recently.

Dale welcomed Aaron Wilbraham back to Spotland this evening as he brought his Shrewsbury side to take on his former manager BBM. Well, it's not technically his side but he's in charge while Steve Cotterill is still absent with Covid-19.

Would a defeat seal BBM's fate ahead of tomorrow's virtual fans forum? Would a win kickstart a run of form? Will we just carry on enduring this horrible form? Lots of answers and answers are needed, along with solutions.

The Dale lined up with no less than 8 players who could be classed as a defender in the line-up in what looks, on paper, like the most negative eleven we've ever put out! God only knows how we would line up. Oh and Aaron Morley was left out for the first time this season.

Dale had the first chance of the game with Humphrys managing to bring the ball under control and hitting an effort on goal from 25 yards with just over a minute of the game gone.

It certainly looked like we were playing three centre backs in Osho, McShane and Roberts and Done looked to be up front with Humphrys.

With 4 minutes gone, Shrewsbury had the ball in the back of the net but thankfully for us and for Bazunu, he was adjudged to have been fouled. I thought it looked soft.

Another chance for Dale who had started the game well against what looked like a poor Shrewsbury side. A cross came in which the keeper made an absolute hash of and a goalmouth scramble followed but Dale couldn't find a way past the Shrewsbury back line.

Humphrys looked like he was well away before Ro Shaun Williams absolutely took the Dale striker down and picked up a booking. The resulting free kick was played short and played into Humphrys by Keohane but his shot was deflected wide. A miles better opening 20 minutes.

Conor Grant tried a cross but got it very wrong and it flew high and wide over the bar.

WHAT A CHANCE! A great ball forward played in Matty Done but Burgoyne came racing out, Done takes it past him and brings it forward. Crosses to Humphrys who had his sliding effort cleared off the line!

Were Dale going to pay for these missed chances?

Shrewsbury did cause us issues when they were able to counter. Whalley had an effort easily saved by Bazunu.

Bazunu was called into action when Ogbeta cut inside and curled an effort towards the far corner but Bazunu was on hand to keep it out.

A fast paced half came to a close with the scores level at 0-0. Dale had perhaps had the better chances and had looked a lot better with more attacking intent than in recent weeks. We've noticeably tired toward the end of the half however. More of the same needed and a win is an absolute must. Shrewsbury looked woeful in defence and this was a huge opportunity with results elsewhere going against us as well.

Dale got the second half under way, kicking toward the Sandy.

Shrewsbury were definitely getting into the game more and were having a lot more possession than we were allowing them first half. A long range effort was comfortable for Bazunu thankfully.

iFollow showed us a replay while we took a quick freekick to Done who clipped it into Humphrys whose header clipped the crossbar. Will we ever score a goal?

Dale paid the price on 55 minutes a Shrewsbury took the lead. A superb deep cross from Whalley on the left found Daniels at the back post, having beaten Keohane in the air, and his header was powerful but Bazunu pushes it into the back of the net. Unfortunately he has to do better there and suddely Dale are 1-0 down.

A nice through ball from Grant found Keohane whose effort was blocked and went out for a corner. The resulting corner was headed over the bar by O'Connell.

That's that. Game over. League One status all but over.

Another counter attack, this time from O'Connell losing possession, saw Shrewsbury break and nobody picked up Vela's run and the ball from the left found Vela running through one on one with Bazunu and he showed great composure and sent Bazunu the wrong way to make it 2-0.

That sparked BBM into making changes. Kwadwo Baah and Aaron Morley were on for Ryan McLaughlin and Paul McShane.

Dale had a great chance. Humphrys played in Grant who should have shot but got tackled in the box but the ball fell to Keohane who can't finish it either and the keeper grabbed hold of it.

Dale still went on the attack with Grant and Baah trying to get things moving forward but it just isn't going Dale's way at all.

With 10 minutes left, Alex Newby replaced Gabriel Osho as Dale moved players around and tried to attack.

Humphrys forces Burgoyne into a good save from a narrow angle. O'Connell played a lovely ball over and Humphrys managed to take it in his stride and blast it goalwards but the keeper does well to push it wide.

With 3 minutes of normal time, Aaron Wilbraham thought he'd start taking the piss by bringing Rekeil Pyke on.

The game petered out, Dale had been beaten again.

There now has to be a change surely?

PLAYER RATINGS:

Gavin Bazunu - 5 (Poor mistake for the first goal)

Ryan McLaughlin - 6 (Had another tough game up against Ogbeta and Whalley)

Gabriel Osho - 6 (Did simple things ok, didn't do a lot wrong)

Haydon Roberts - 7 (Think Roberts has done well. Good on the ball and put some good challenges in)

Paul McShane - 6 (Did alright, missed the interception for the second goal)

Eoghan O'Connell - 6 (Did ok again in a defensive midfield role but losing possession led to their second goal)

Conor Shaughnessy - 6 (MJ Williams with height)

Jimmy Keohane - 6 (Definitely better further forward for us)

Conor Grant - 6 (There's a player there but needs to learn where not to lose the ball. Had some nice touches)

MATT DONE - 7 (Worked his bollocks off and really caused them issues first half)

Stephen Humphrys - 6 (Had much more opportunity in the final third tonight and did ok)

Subs:

Kwadwo Baah - 5 (Had a go but spent more time kicking people)
Aaron Morley - 5 (Offered nothing when he came on)
Alex Newby - Not sure he touched the ball

Photo: Action Images

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