Another defeat for BBM's men as Dale hit rock bottom of League One following a 2-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland.

Dale made the trip up to Sunderland in desperate need for points but highly unlikely to pick up any.

Another tenner spent on iFollow because I have nothing better to do and watching Dale is an additiction. We know what's coming, yet we still do it to ourselves.

The team news came through and Alex Newby made way for Kwadwo Baah but Dale were otherwise unchanged. I don't know if that's a good thing or not anymore.

Sunderland got us underway and looked to attack and target the left wing almost from kick-off. It looked like McLaughlin was gonna have a tough game today.

With just five minutes gone, McLaughlin got himself a booking. A late challenge was waved on for advantage but a cross was well tipped away by Bazunu but the referee brought the play back and awarded the free kick.

The freekick was swung in and Sanderson was left unmarked at the back post to head Sunderland into a 1-0 lead. Keohane had been held in the box but I'm not convinved he was marking the goalscorer anyway but nobody else was either and it was all too easy and all too predictable.

It should have been 2-0 just a minute later when Bazunu parried a cross straight to a Sunderland player but Jimmy Keohane put in a fantastic block to prevent what looked a certain goal.

Dale's first real chance of the game went to Kwadwo Baah. A great ball from Morley found Baah but his touch left him unbalanced and he could only toe-poke it goalwards but his effort was easily saved. Bit better from Rochdale.

A chance fror Dale! Baah is in acres of space! Shaughnessy picks the ball up, all he has to do is play one more ball across but his pass is absolutely bloody atrocious and goes harmlessly to the keeper. That's so bad it's not even funny.

Results from elsewhere were coming through and Northampton and Wigan were winning. As it stands, we were bottom of League One. Clear at the bottom by two points as well.

Stephen Humphrys had half a sight of goal and his shot was well blocked. Dale were having more possession now.

With the half hour mark approaching. Keohane played a ball across to skipper Eoghan O'Connell who tried to curl it into the far corner but it was straight at Lee Burge in the Sunderland net.

Dale continued to get forward and try and create and McLaughlin put in a fantastic ball across the box and Keohane blazed it over the bar from 6 yards. What a chance for Dale. Chances were being created but weren't being taken and if we're gonna get back into the game, these chances need taking. Had these chances fallen to the home side instead, they'd have taken it.

Boom, game over, 2-0 to Sunderland on 35 mins. A wonderful ball in from Jones on the right finds Charlie Wyke to heads it past Bazunu brilliantly to extend their lead. McShane was easily beaten to it as well and just like that, the game was pretty much over and minutes earlier it could have been 1-1. Fine margins and the things that go against you when you're struggling like we are.

Dale did well to win a corner, a good ball in from McLaughlin was well defended, preventing Osho from scoring. The resulting corner was headed back into the box and a goalmouth scramble ended with Sunderland keeping Dale at bay.

Half time whistle blew and Sunderland led 2-0 with Dale rock bottom of League One as it stood.

With 53 minutes, gone, Dale really should have got a goal back. A clever quick free-kick found Humphrys who just had to finish past the keeper but he made a fantastic save to tip the effort wide. Great chance for Dale.

Alex Newby came on for Gabriel Osho in a bid to increase our attacking intent.

There was a stoppage in play on 71 minutes when the linesman went down injured with what looked like a calf strain. The fourth official replaced him.

Aiden McGeady went close from a free kick that looked to catch Bazunu out as he as expecting a cross. Had it been on target, Bazunu would have been way out of postition.

Charlie Wyke headed over from a McGeady cross with Shaughnessy doing enough to put the Sunderland number 9 off.

Dale had another chance when Humphrys won a header, Shaughnessy judged the bounce well and volleyed a shot on goal but it was straight at Burge who spilled it but regained it quite quickly.

Matt Done replaced Ryan McLaughlin with 3 minutes to go.

There was 8 minutes of stoppage time shown following the injury to the linesman but the game petered out and ended 2-0 to Sunderland.

Another defeat for Dale and one that takes us bottom of the league thanks to results elsewhere. The teams around us all made changes to the management teams and are reaping the rewards at present.

Player Ratings:

Gavin Bazunu - 6 (Did ok, no chance with either goal)

Ryan McLaughlin - 6 (Put in a couple of great balls in but had a difficult day dealing with McGeady.

Gabriel Osho - 6 (Did ok while he was on. Much better at centre back than right back)

Paul McShane - 6 (Poor for the second goal but did ok aside from that)

Jimmy Keohane - 6 (Did ok, was a bit weak in challenges at times)

Eoghan O'Connell - 6 (Had our first shot on target in about 4 years it seems. Did ok)

Aaron Morley - 6 (Did ok but too one dimensional. Plays the same pass constantly and it seldom works)

Conor Shaughnessy - 5 (Poor I thought today. Sloppy in possession)

Conor Grant - 6 (Did alright, better than we've seen. Some nice touches)

KWADWO BAAH - 7 (My MOTM, did have a good, not quite often enough but did ok defensively as well, worked very hard)

Stephen Humphrys - 5 (Should have scored. Looked uninterested a little today, but that's probably frustration.

Subs:

Alex Newby - 6 (Couple of nice touches but booked for a frustrated challenge late on)
Matt Done - Not on long enough for a rating

Photo: Action Images

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