Dale 1 Everton 4
Dale suffered the pain of a Brazilian at the weekend as two goals from Everton's on loan striker Jo saw our Premiership visitors record a 4-1, despite a creditable performance from ourselves
Around 3500 made the trip for the first Spotland visit of the season, with most of them opting for a pitch side view of the pitch and its recent renovations.
Everton boss David Moyes had backed up his claims to be bringing a strong side to Spotland, with a string of household names in his side's line up which was probably the most expensive side ever to visit Rochdale.
The game itself saw the visitors run out as easy 4-1 winners, but that's not to say that Dale were chasing shadows all afternoon. Many of the Dale side came out with credit following the game, but the gulf in class was always going to be evident.
Everton took the lead early in the game through NI international Shane Duffy when he tapped home within the first ten minutes of the game, and their advantage was doubled thanks to one of our own. Craig Dawson misfired and saw the ball end up past Kenny Arthur to give the Toffeemen a two goal lead.
Our own resident scouser Chris Dagnall showed Dawson how to score at the correct end, when he fired home a penalty following a mistimed challenge on the edge of the penalty box.
However, hopes of a Dale comeback were dashed with a brace from Man City's 276th choice striker Jo who will probably outscore any player from City this season.
Dale: Arthur, Wiseman (Brizzel), T. Kennedy , Stanton (Brown), Dawson (Broomes), Buckley, J. Kennedy (Byrne), Jones, Higginbotham (Woofle), Dagnall, Thompson
What to read next:
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures 2In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them.
Southampton V Stoke City The PreviewSaints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned.
No Togetherness No Character No FightNot my words, but those of Southampton manager Russell Martin, who should ask himself the question why two months ago we had all those attributes and now we don't !
Southampton At Leicester The DebacleThe big question is how can a side that was so tight at the back, so clinical up front and who could pass the ball around almost with their eyes closed, become the disorganised rabble that they were at the Leicester City this evening.
Southampton At Leicester City The PreviewSaints travel up to Leicester knowing that it is almost certain that they will just be in the play offs come the end of the season, however there is still the feint hope of 3rd place to play for, however the Foxes are playing for a bigger prize.
A Rough Guide To Leicester City FCSaints head up to Leicester City this evening with their automatic promotion hopes just about over, so for the 3,000 fans who bought their tickets when there was hope here are the details.
Southampton At Cardiff City The VerdictThere can be no excuses for this defeat, a loss that effectively means that it will be a play off spot and not an automatic promotion place for Southampton, so where did it all go wrong.