Rochdale were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Gillingham at Spotland, a result that leaves them 22nd in the League Two table. The home side's task became impossible when Ed Francis was shown a second yellow card in the 60th minute, leaving them to play the final half-hour with ten men. bbc.com first reported the story.
The match report was supplied by PA Media. Gillingham celebrated their first win of the season with a comfortable victory at 10-man Rochdale. The visitors took control early and never looked back, capitalising fully on their numerical advantage after the break.
How did the match unfold?
Rochdale's afternoon was disrupted by an early injury to Will Goodwin. Despite that setback, the game remained goalless until the 32nd minute when James Brophy put Gillingham ahead. The visitors doubled their lead shortly after half-time through Omar Beckles in the 53rd minute. Lamin Sillah made it 3-0 just three minutes later, effectively ending the contest.
The home side's hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Ed Francis received his marching orders for a second bookable offence on the hour mark. Gillingham added a fourth through James Brophy's second goal of the game later in the half. Rochdale's sole consolation came from Charlie Tasker, who scored in the 87th minute.
What were the key moments?
Oliver Wright in the Gillingham goal was a significant barrier, making a important double save to deny Mani Dieseruvwe and Luke Hannant. Rochdale also saw Zech Obiero carried off on a stretcher during the match, compounding a difficult day for the squad. The sending off of Francis was the key incident, transforming a challenging situation into an impossible one for the home team.
You can review the full squad details and check for any updates on our injuries page following the knocks to Goodwin and Obiero.
Where does this leave Rochdale?
This defeat compounds a tough start to the campaign for Rochdale. They currently sit 22nd in League Two with just 3 points from their opening five games, having recorded one win and four losses. Their goal difference stands at minus five, having scored 5 and conceded 10. They are already 9 points behind the early leaders, Bristol Rovers.
Their recent form reads LWLLL, highlighting the need for a swift turnaround. The immediate focus shifts to preparing for the next challenge in the fixtures list.
What is next for the team?
Jimmy McNulty's side must regroup quickly ahead of a tough away trip to face Walsall on September 12th. Walsall currently occupy 5th place in the table, presenting another stern test. A positive result there is important to stop the slide and begin climbing the standings. The team travels to the Bescot Stadium looking for a much-improved performance.
