Oldham 3 - 0 Rochdale

Rochdale crashed to defeat in the derby game with Oldham after injuries meant manager Keith Hill had to make three first half substitutions and Dale ended the game with 10 men after another injury to Ashley Eastham. A brace by Rhys Turner came either side of a Jonathan Forte goal to stop Dale moving into the top six.

Hill named an unchanged side for the third straight game as his side looked for revenge on Oldham after the 3-0 drubbing at Spotland back in November but it was Oldham that started much brighter.

Mike Jones’ shot from distance beat Jamie Jones but not the woodwork.

Dale’s first injury came on 20 minutes when Rueben Noble-Lazarus replaced Peter Vincenti after he picked up a groin strain.

Oldham took the lead on the half hour mark through Rhys Turner after a mistake by Dale’s keeper Jones. Matt Sadler burst through on the left before toe poking his shot at goal which Jones fumbled into the path of Turner to smash home from close range.

A clash of heads between Sadler and Jamie Allen saw the Dale man leave the field with a nasty looking head injury; Dale boss Keith Hill confirming later he was in hospital and possibly facing surgery.

Moments after Allen’s departure, Stephen Dawson had to leave the field with a knee injury.

Those three changes certainly disrupted Dale as Oldham looked to take advantage.

Luke Woodland flashed a shot just wide from 18 yards out.

Oldham doubled their advantage just before the hour mark after more poor Dale defending. Eastham’s clearance only found Jones on the edge of the area whose cross found Forte. The striker's first effort was blocked but he drilled the ball through the legs of Jones at the second attempt.

Two soon became three when Rhys Turner walked through the Dale defence with consummate ease before slotting past Jones.

It was painful to watch for the Dale supporters as the defence crumbled in the game that means the most to the fans.

Dale did rally a bit after the third goal; Hery shooting wide when he should have done better whilst Noble-Lazarus tested young Oldham keeper Coleman from distance.

Dale’s day was complete when Ashley Eastham was forced off with an injury meaning they had to play the remaining 15 minutes with just 10 men.

It was a disappointing evening for those with a Rochdale persuasion especially after Oldham beat Dale by the same score in Novemeber.

Attendance: 5,322

Rochdale: Jones, Cannon, Eastham, O’Connell, Kennedy, Bennett, Vincenti (Noble-Lazarus 20), Dawson (Lancashire 43), Allen (Hery 38), Rose, Henderson (c)
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Brandy, Tanser, Bunney

Oldham: Coleman, Brown (Kusunga 73), Lockwood (c), Gerrard, Sadler, Philliskirk, Winchester, Jones, Woodland (Dieng 85), Turner (Poleon 64), Forte
Subs: (not used) Kean, Mellor, Bove, Jacobs

Referee: Mr D Bond
Assistant Referees: Mr M Duncan and Mr P Marsden
Fourth Official: Mr P Kettlewell