Rochdale cruised to a 3-0 win over Notts County at Spotland thanks to goals from Lambert (2) and Cartwright. Full match report and player ratings are online now.

Rochdale continued their good form with a very easy win over Notts County.  The game was over half way through the first half with Rochdale 3-0 up at that point and strolled to a very easy victory.  The result now sees Rochdale climb up to second and just one point behind league leaders Grimsby Town.  All of a sudden Col's prediction that Notts County will be relegated didn't seem as silly as one Notts County fan said it was.

Steve Parkin welcomed back Ernie Cooksey to the squad but was without Tommy Jaszczun who limped out of the Chester match but he stayed with a 4-4-2 system with Jon Boardman coming into the centre of defence with Tony Gallimore going to left back and Alan Goodall going to left wing.  With The G-Unit being broken up with the inclusion of Boardman, Dale now had the Bee Gees in defence.  The rest of the team was the same with the bench consisting of Woodhall, Brown, Warner, Cooksey and Sturrock.

Dale bossed the game earlier on and the first goal was quick in arriving as well.  A free kick was given to Rochdale about 30 yards out.  I think you can guess the rest but just to make sure, Lamberto Carlos stepped up to take it.  I knew it was going in and Notts County decided a three man wall would suffice, erm, wrong.  He ran up and curled it into the top corner of the net for his 7th of the season.  Typical Lambert, better than Beckham.

Lambert got his 8th of the season soon after when a fantastic cross from Alan Goodall was easily headed in by Rickie leaving Pilko in the Notts County net with no chance to make it 2-0 to Dale.  Up went nearly 3,000 arms as EASY EASY was the cry from the Spotland crowd and that it was!

With 20 minutes Lee Cartwright was in on the act to put the game beyond any doubt whatsoever.  Alan Goodall was the provider again as he put in another belting cross which Lamberto headed back to Cartwright who headed his first Rochdale goal to make it 3-0.  Game, set and match!  You may as well go home was the cry from the Sandy at this stage among the EASY chants. 

Dale calmed things down and sat back from then on, not wasting too much energy against what was quite clearly an awful team.

We still managed to be the only side who looked remotely like scoring and Lamberto headed a couple over the bar and just generally caused a threat whenever near the ball.

The second half was very poor to watch though Rochdale continued to dominate.  County didn't go chanceless but never tested Gilks until right near the end.

Rickie Lambert in fairness, could have had about 6 goals this afternoon but he didn't add to the two he got in the first half despite another couple of headers which didn't get past Pilko.  He also attempted a volley which he buggered up as he thought he was offside.

Rochdale's Freddie Mercury lookalike (according to Griff), Alan Goodall was causing all sorts of problems down the left and could have scored a couple himself.  He got the beating of the right back a few times and on one occasion, Grant Holt had put him in unselfishly and he tried chipping Pilkington but he pulled off a good save to keep it out.  He also broke twice more after that but couldn't take advantage of it.

Blair Sturrock came on to replace Grant Holt who'd been poor by his very high standards.  Holt didn't have a good afternoon but I found it very encouraging that he could have a poor game and it not affect us too much.  The fact we basically won 3-0 without him says that to me.

The pint sized full back Gary Brown made it off the bench to replace Warren Goodhind who hadn't done too badly though had been given a few problems by their decent wide man.

Dale's 2 goal hero Rickie Lambert took a knock and was brought off as Ernie came on up front to partner Sturrock.

Gary Jones got into a spot of bother late on as he went in two footed along with a Notts County lad but the referee showed great common sense in my opinion and showed Jones a yellow card.  The Notts player helped him by getting up quickly but the game never threatened to boil over and it was late on.  He didn't go in full whack either.

Notts County made Gilks work for the first time in the game late on with a good effort which was excellently saved considering he had bugger all to do for the rest of the game.

The game finished 3-0 to Rochdale and to be fair, the referee could have blown for full time at half time instead and we could have gone home early.

Player Ratings:

Matt Gilks 7 Had bugger all to do apart from one save at the end which was an excellent save

Warren Goodhind 6 Got skinned a few times today and looked a little tired.  Did ok though and looks like he will be an excellent asset

Tony Gallimore 7 Another good performance from Galli, this time at left back

Jon Boardman 7 Did well today Boardman against a poor strikeforce though

Gareth Griffiths 7 See Boardman

Lee Cartwright 7 I thought he did quite well again.  Scored and worked hard throughout. 

Alan Goodall 8 Superb from Goodall today, got forward brilliantly and could have scored

Gary Jones 7 Very good performance from Jones I thought.  Good passing, worked hard and proved himself against his former manager

Jamie Clarke 7 Impressed with Clarke again today, showed some great control in the middle and his passing was good

RICKIE LAMBERT 8 Excellent and my M.O.M for today.  Scored two good goal and could have had a few more

Grant Holt 6 Very off day for Holt though we proved we could live without him

Sub:  

Blair Sturrock 6 Worked hard when he came on though was caught offside a lot

Gary Brown 6 Not involved too much

Ernie Cooksey 6 Not on long enough to make a judgement really

Photo: Action Images

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