Rochdale had to make do with a point despite dominating Mansfield Town at Spotland. Dale remain 12th in the league following the match. Full match report and player ratings are now online.

The weather was kind to Rochdale and the game went ahead despite all the reported problems and it was definitely a case of two points dropped today as Rochdale hosted former England International Carlton Palmer's Mansfield Town a Spotland.  The game finished 1-1 with the much criticised Paul Tait getting Rochdale's goal and a wonderful effort from former Milkman Richie Barker levelling things up.

Rochdale went with an unchanged team despite Gareth Griffiths being available again after his suspension.  Matt Gilks was in net with Wayne Evans, Daryl Burgess, Greg Heald and Alan Goodall in defence.  The familiar three man midfield of Jamie Clarke, Gary Jones and Ernie Cooksey was once again in operation with Leo Bertos, Paul Tait and Grant Holt leading the line.  Neil Edwards, Gareth Griffiths, Scott Warner, Tai Atieno and Leighton McGivern were on the bench.

Dale started the game superbly and looked the only team in the game for most of the first half and after just 3 minutes, Rochdale were ahead!  A fantastic move was easily finished off by Paul Tait to make it 1-0 to Rochdale and gave him only his 3rd goal of the season.  Grant Holt played a fantastic through ball with the outside of his boot to put Bertos in a great position to get a cross in which he did and Tait was there to meet Leo's good cross with a good diving header.

Steve Parkin's men couldn't have asked for a better start and they continued to take the game to the Stags.  Dale had plenty of chances to increase their lead.  Gary Jones blasted over the bar from the edge of the box and there were a couple of goal mouth scrambles as well which were eventually cleared by the Mansfield defence.

Greg Heald was next to come close for Rochdale when he got on the end of a Jamie Clarke corner which was flicked on by Paul Tait but Heald's effort only found the woodwork.

Holty once again found Bertos with a very good ball but Leo couldn't get his effort on target and the shot went wide of the post.

Dale striker Grant Holt has picked up a few too many yellow cards this season and for a while now, he has been on nine cards meaning he was one card away from an immediate two match suspension.  That card came in the first half when he went into a 50/50 tackle with Luke Dimech who took exception to Holt's tackle but Holt decided he was to have the last word by squaring up to him and thanks to some of the most blatant acting I have ever seen Dimech went to ground like he had been shot!  Both men received yellow cards and Holty now misses the next two games, Chester and Yeovil away.

Rochdale continued to pressure but with just over 5 minutes to go before the half time break, Mansfield got an equaliser and it was totally against the run of play but there was no arguing with the finish.  Goodall and Burgess failed to stop Simon Brown getting a cross in and former Macc striker Richie Barker scored with a superb overhead kick that flew past Gilks into the left corner to make it 1-1.

The half time whistle blew and it was hard to believe that Rochdale weren't winning the game but I always thought we would get another and leave Spotland with three points.

With just a couple of minutes gone in the second half, Dale took the lead only for the linesman to rule it out for offside.  A good ball in was headed in by Paul Tait and the Dale cheers soon ended when the linesman on the right hand side had his flag held out.

Gary Jones had another long range effort off target with the hour approaching.  He let rip from 20 yards but his shot went miles wide.

Grant Holt nearly got his 20th goal of the season with a thunderous effort from a long way out.  He turned well and just smashed the ball as hard as he could from wide and Pilkington was forced to tip the ball over from

Rochdale should have been allowed to continue with one attack but the linesman put his flag up to rule Holt offside despite Wayne Corden playing him onside by about 5 yards which left the fans, the players and the manager very angry indeed.

Mansfield had a great chance with the game nearing 90 minutes when substitute Shane Smeltz was left alone to get a free header in but his effort went wide of the post.

The game came to an end and 1-1 was a great result for Mansfield considering the amount of chances Dale had but if you don't take your chances, you won't win games.  I think it shows how far we have come really in that we are expecting to win almost every game now whereas a point against Mansfield, even at home, would have been quite good earlier in the season and last season.

Matt Gilks 7 Not really troubled but dealt with crosses well and had no chance with the goal

Wayne Evans 7 Thought he had a decent game today.  He got some good tackles and interceptions in which made up for some poor passes forward

Alan Goodall 7 Good game for Alan.  Made several superb tackles and looked good

Greg Heald 7 Greg also had a good game I thought, won plenty in the air and looked solid for the most part

Daryl Burgess 7 Decent game for Burgess, thought he got some superb tackles in at times

Jamie Clarke 7 Looked good in the midfield and tried to create all the time though some of his long passes weren't brilliant

Gary Jones 6 Looked a little out of sorts today.  His work rate was superb but his passing was very poor

Ernie Cooksey 7 Did well in the time he was on but was surprisingly taken off late on for McGivern

Leo Bertos 7 Thought he did well in the first half but was a little quiet in the second and was replaced by Atieno late in the second half

PAUL TAIT 7 Just shades the M.O.M award.  Scored the Dale goal and his touch was excellent.  Should have had a second but it was ruled out for offside

Grant Holt 7 Another good game for Holt but now misses the next two through suspension

Subs:  

Tai Atieno 6 Did little when he came on

Leighton McGivern 6 See Atieno

Photo: Action Images

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