Dale continued their winning streak with a third consecutive home win after beating the in-form Blackpool 1-0 at Spotland.

After two home wins on the bounce, Dale were at home again looking to make it a hattrick, this time against the in-form Blackpool.

At this stage, with results going against us at the weekend, nothing other than wins are enough I fear but that very small bit of hope remains that we can defy the odds and stay in League One. I don't think we'll be getting an invite into the "European Super League" just yet will we?

BBM's latest injury news suggested Haydon Roberts had kicked his last ball for Dale in his loan spell because of an injury and Stephen Humphrys wasn't ready to get back involved as yet so Dale named an unchanged side:

The first chance of the game fell to Rochdale despite a strong start from the seasiders. Good work from Conor Grant saw him get to the edge of the box before playing the ball to Keohane who laid off to Paul McShane of all people and he curled an effort high and wide into the Pearl Street stand.

What a chance for Dale! Keohane broke for Dale, laid it off to Morley who dinked a brilliant ball in which evaded the Blackpool defender and found Dooley who got on the end of it but his effort was brilliantly saved by Maxwell in the Blackpool net on 12 minutes.

Maxwell was again forced into action, producing another good save, this time from Grant who causing Blackpool lots of problems. Dale very much on top at the minute.

Would we regret these missed chances?

Blackpool almost scored from a corner on 25 minutes when Dan Ballard headed wide when he ought to have hit the target. Blackpool were getting more of the ball after Dale had the better of the early exchanges.

As it stood on 36 minutes, Dale were 6 points from safety with Northampton, Swindon and Wigan all winning. We've left our little ressurgence too late.

Half time came and the scores were level.

The rest of the footballing world all went a bit mental at half time with teams dropping like flies out of the proposed European Super League with it being reported that all English teams were set to back out and Ed Wooward had resigned at Manchester United. Could the evening get better, well, for this admin at least?

No changes for the second half and Dale got us underway.

Jerry Yates had a good chance for Blackpool when he started and finished a quick breakaway but his effort was wide.

Jay Lynch was forced into his first real save when it very much looked like the Blackpool attack was offside but somehow the flag stayed down as Blackpool had started the second half better.

Blackpool were piling the pressue on but Dale were holding firm for now as Dale readied Matt Done and Matty Lund to come on. The replaced Stephen Dooley and Conor Grant.

Wimbledon scored two in quick succession to give them the lead in their game against Oxford, meaning as it stood, Dale were 7 points from safety.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLL!!! What a strike from Ollie Rathbone! A throw from Done found Morley who played it back to Rathbone and his smashes the ball past Maxwell with his weaker right foot into the far corner to make it 1-0 to Rochdale.

Matt Done had a wonderful chance just a few minutes after the goal after a missed interception saw him go one on one with the keeper but he took too long and the chance disappeared.

Predictably, Conor Shaugnessy was stripped and ready to come on with time heading close to stoppage time. He came on for Aaron Morley as 5 minutes stoppage time was held up by the fouth official.

Get in! Final whistle goes and Dale have won their third game in a week, 3 consective wins, all at home. If you'd said that two weeks ago I'd have laughed at you. Great result for Dale but the results are still going against us. That Wimbledon game is absolutely massive now!

Player Ratings:

Jay Lynch - 7 (Solid again, rightly first choice at the minute)

Ryan McLaughlin - 6 (Did ok, did well defensively and did try to get forward)

Eoghan O'Connell - 7 (Good performance, back three were excellent)

Paul McShane - 8 (Superb, read the game brilliantly and was solid as a rock)

Gabriel Osho - 8 (Fantastic again from the on-loan defender. Contender for signing of the season)

Jimmy Keohane - 7 (Didn't score for a change but did well)

Aaron Morley - 7 (Another assist and we've looked better for having him back instead of Shaughnessy recently)

Stephen Dooley - 6 (Gave the ball away a little too much for me)

Conor Grant - 7 (thought he did well first half)

Ollie Rathbone - 7 (Another absolute graft from Rathbone, topped off with a superb goal)

Jake Beesley - 7 (Worked hard again and chased the ball down constantly)

Subs:

Matty Lund - 6 (Not as involved as I thought he would be)
Matt Done - 6 (Thought he spurned a couple of good opportunities to get the ball in the box and his missed opportunity was poor as well)
Conor Shaughnessy - Not on long enough

Photo: Action Images

Rochdale Polls