Derby day 'take two' arrived at Spotland with doubts of the game being on or not being unjustified in the end. There was an early morning inspection with the freezing temperatures we've had but it was given the go ahead and the weather reports that had us down to be snowed under were a load of tosh as it happened.
There was a fair amount of buzz about the game despite the failed first attempt to play the tie. But, given that it's the first time we've really played Oldham in a league match for many years, there was much anticipation about our new derby match. Songs we've been singing for years about our bucket neighbours were now being sung about our Royton friends and although it sounded a tad weird, it's something we'll hopefully be doing a few more times yet.
Dale lined up with a 4-4-2 system which has worked better in the last couple of games rather than the 4-5-1 system we've been used to seeing. Lillis was in net, our back four consisted of Wiseman, Holness, Dawson and TK, Adams, Thompson, Jones and JK lined up in midfield with the latter replacing Barry-Murphy from the midweek team sheet. O'Grady was up top with Grant. Dale came out wearing the familiar home kit with Latics sporting an awful white and blue kit which looked like it had been a reject design from an Everton away kit from a few years ago.
The game started off fairly even for the first few minutes but the visitors started keeping the ball better and pressing at every opportunity with Rochdale seemingly unable to get to grips with the game.
Dale were forced into a change early on as well as Joey Thompson limped off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Matty Done who's waited patiently to be given a decent chance since joining in then summer.
Latics continued to dominate and just after the quarter of an hour mark, they were ahead. Jason Kennedy received the ball in midfield, dallied on it and was easily dispossessed by Omare Tounkara who played in Arsenal loanee Cedric Evina who side footed home from 20 yards. Could Lillis have done better? Probably, should the defence have closed Evina down earlier? Probably, but JK fannying about with the ball in midfield proved very costly, something we've been guilty a lot for this season.
The goal seemed to spark some life into Rochdale and they began to have some good spells of football with Oldham being forced to watch.
Bobby Grant went close for Dale just after the half hour mark when he had a shot from range that curled just wide of the left post.
Just a minute or two later and Dale were deservedly level. I was lucky to see it as I'd headed off for a leak and a brew but as I got to the end of the stand, Scott Wiseman played a magnificent through ball to Adams who crossed low for the impressive substitute Matty Done to tap in from a couple of yards for his first Rochdale goal. A very well worked goal that was made to look very easy.
The game was level and if Dale could play the second half like they ended the first, we were in with a real shout of winning the game.
The second half started well for Rochdale and it was Oldham struggling to get into the game.
Matty Done nearly set up Nicky Adams for a good chance but some good defending by the Latics left back Paul Black put an end to it.
Not long after that, Bobby Grant was sent clear on goal after some fantastic work by O'Grady out wide but the Scunthorpe loanee slipped when one on one with the keeper and the chance was lost. He'd have surely scored had he been able to stay on his feet.
Rochdale's best chance fell to Adams who was found brilliantly by a superb cross from the left wing by Matt Done but Adams' close range header was brilliant saved by Dean Brill.
Dale continued to dominate proceedings and went close again when a Gary Jones piledriver from 20 yards was well saved by Brill and pushed over the bar.
Then came another big talking point. Bobby Grant was sent through on goal and was certain to get a shot away but was bundled down by Jean Yves Mvoto. A certain red card surely? Not according to the official who dished out a yellow card. There was no chance of another defender being able to cover and through on goal so surely Mvoto was stopping a clear goalscoring opportunity as the last man. A ridiculous decision by the referee but nevermind.
The freekick on the edge of the box was taken by Tom Kennedy but was blasted well over the cross bar.
Dale's unfortunate luck continued when Josh Lillis pulled up with a hamstring injury like Thompson had in the first half. He was unable to continue so with 20 minutes left, Matty Edwards came on to make his debut having been at the club since the beginning of last season.
The change brought about a few nerves amongst the supporters but Edwards did well with what he had to do which wasn't much to be fair. The first thing he had to face was a freekick which occurred just before Dale made the change but the freekick was blasted straight at the wall. This was Oldham's only effort of note in the second half as they just couldn't get going. Chris Taylor was their most threatening player but he was on his own.
Hillcroft introduced Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro to the game in the place of Bobby Grant to try and mix things up and create that one chance Dale might get to win the game but it didn't happen and the game petered out into a draw despite Rochdale's second half dominance.
That said, if you'd have offered me a point before the game, I'd have been inclined to take it.
People will mention that Dale have only won one game in their last ten in all competitions but the positive is that we're unbeaten in three games. Three games that we'd have been second favourites in. There's not many games we will be favourites for but I'm confident that come 5pm on the 7th May, we'll still be a League One team. One things for sure, Dale's next couple of games will be a massive test to see how far we've come with a home game against Charlton Athletic and then a trip to Peterborough United.