Steve Parkin took his side to London and only managed to come away with a point after a late Barnet equaliser. Full match report and player ratings online now.

Rochdale travelled to London for the second time this season hoping for the same kind of outcome as they got the last time they were in the Capital.  Unfortunately, they had to settle for a point after leading the game 1-0 up until three minutes from time.

Steve Parkin welcomed Neil Brisco to the squad after he'd been doubtful for the match earlier in the week after a bad shoulder injury which had sorted itself out.  Alan Goodall missed the game because of a virus so Tommy Jaszczun came in at left back.  Ernie Cooksey was still out with a foot injury.  Matt Gilks was in goal with Jamie Clarke, Gareth Griffiths, Tony Gallimore and Tommy Jaszczun in defence.  Scott Warner, Neil Brisco and Gary Jones were in midfield.  Blair Sturrock, Rickie Lambert and captain Grant Holt were up front.  Dale stuck a keeper and four defenders on the bench as Danny Woodhall, Rory McArdle, Gary Brown, Jon Boardman and Paul Tait made up the rest of the squad.

Rochdale started the game off well and Scott Warner nearly got on the scoresheet with a shot from twenty yards which Flitney saved well.

Barnet began to get into the game more and Ben Strevens prodded the ball just wide of Gilks' post after good work from the impressive Nick Bailey who did well to set Strevens up.

The travelling Dale supporters thought they were 1-0 up, well at least me and Jangleberry did when Rickie Lambert struck a freekick.  With twenty five minutes gone, Neil Brisco was fouled about twenty two yards out and Lambert struck it brilliantly and it looked to be sailing in but it cannoned off the crossbar but we thought the keeper might have got a fingertip onto it.

With just under half an hour gone, Neil Brisco went down holding his shoulder which looked to be in a funny position indicating that he'd dislocated it just a few days after injuring it in training.  Signs didn't look good and it is suspected that he'll be out for some time now.  Gary Brown replaced Brisco and slotted into the three man midfield.

With ten minutes to go before half time, Dale took the lead through a likely source.  Gary Brown attacked down the right and won a corner.  Rickie Lambert swung a good corner in and Grant Holt met it from just inside the box and headed into the far corner to make it 1-0 to Dale.  That was his ninth goal of the season, not bad from ten games is it!!

Barnet didn't let their heads drop and continued to work to get an equaliser but Rochdale held out.  The half time whistle went with the score at 1-0.

Barnet looked the better side at the beginning of the second and could have equalised when Batt ran through the whole team but blasted over, that would have been some goal had it gone in!

Rickie Lambert should have wrapped things up with a sitter.  Sturrock did excellently to get a cross into the front post where Rickie Lambert just had to connect right to score and he fluffed it wide to our disappointment and his own as well.

Rochdale had a very strong shout for a penalty when Gareth Griffiths was clearly fouled by Afro man at the back for Barnet, Charles but the referee waved it away which had several Rochdale fans on their feet though not for long as Hitler the steward told us to sit down!!!

The home side continued to attack and had a couple of close efforts, one an overhead kick and a shot from distance which went wide.

Blair Sturrock should also have put the game beyond doubt when he did well to get beyond the defence but failed to trouble the keeper.

Paul Tait came on for Dale replacing Rickie Lambert unfortunately. 

Barnet got their equaliser three minutes before time and it came from Grazioli.  A cross came in and Gilks and every other played on the pitch went for it, Gilks looked like he was pushed in the back and he spilled to Grazioli who made no mistake in making it 1-1 with the home fans celebrating like a victory.  Wouldn't want to be round London today, there will be an open top bus because of their equaliser!

The game ended 1-1 and it was a case of two points dropped for Dale and Grant Holt picked up a very harsh yellow card for kicking the ball away, though he made contact with the ball at the same time the referee blew!  Oxford are next up for Dale on Tuesday at Spotland, followed by Rushden at home on Saturday.

Player Ratings:

Matt Gilks 6 Kicking was poor a lot of the time and looked unsteady for their equaliser

Jamie Clarke 7 Passing was impressive but he got caught out a couple of times by a pacey winger

TOMMY JASZCZUN 8 Looked excellent in his natural position and gets my M.O.M. 

Tony Gallimore 7 Solid at the back and if he continues to prove his class then Boardman may struggle to get in the team again

Gareth Griffiths 7 Good first half, strong in the air as usual and should have had a penalty in the second half

Scott Warner 7 Did well in midfield and cut up several moves Barnet tried and got stuck in very well

Neil Brisco 7 Decent game again for Brisco Inferno until his shoulder popped out again

Gary Jones 7 Worked very hard and got involved in a lot of Dale moves

Blair Sturrock 7 Worked his arse off again doing the grafting and had one or two chances that could really have seen us come away with more than a point

Rickie Lambert 6 Not too good from Lambert today, missed a sitter in the second half and that summed his day up really

Grant Holt 7 Worked hard, caused problems and got yet another goal.

Sub:  

Gary Brown 7 Did well after coming on to replace Brisco, didn't look out of place in midfield

Paul Tait 5 Came on late and I was willing to forgive him if he'd have a positive influence but no, he came on and was crap

Photo: Action Images

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