Dale crashed out of the FA Cup in the 2nd Round at Blackpool. The game finished 2-0 with goals coming from John Murphy and Paul Simpson.

Where to start!? With no manager, our longest serving player just leaving, our captain also long gone, one of our star strikers suspended, our keeper injured again and a full away end waiting to be satisfied, Dale had an uphill task right from the start.

The Dale line-up saw the return of Matty Gilkes in net in place of the injured Neil Edwards. Dave Flitcroft took his place in midfield in place of Darren Dunning who was not allowed to play due to Blackburn not wanting him cup-tied

To say Dale were poor in the first half was an understatement. It was one of the most spineless and gutless performances seen this season. There was no fight, the players didn't look up for it and Blackpool fully deserved their two goal lead.

For some reason Dale just didn't seem to be interested. The manager situation seems to be affecting the players now as well as the fans, and it must be sorted out as soon as possible. A performance like the one in the first half is not acceptable. For the first time in god knows how long the Dale players were booed from the pitch.

Blackpool took the lead following a deep cross to the back post. Murphy rose to head towards goal. Gilkes was caught off balance and stood motionless to watch the ball trickle into the net. Bad turned to worse not long later when Paul Simpson produced a moment of magic. Gilkes was caught in no-mans land and Simpson hit a stunning volley over his head from fully 30 yards out.

The second half saw Dale come out though looking a much better side. We actually started to pass the ball around, and the game was no longer so one-sided. We began to create chances and Platt and Connor should of done better. If it hadn't of been for such an incompetent linesman as well Dale may also of taking the lead, but time after time he gave offside, when it clearly wasn't.

Blackpool also had their chances. In fact they should really of finished Dale off. They hit the woodwork on no fewer than 3 occasions. As the game stayed at 2-0 though Dale were always in with a shout. We should of at least pulled one goal back through the chances we had.

Mid-way through the half saw Dale make two substitutions. The first of saw Matt Doughty (who had been easily one of our better players) replaced by Graeme Atkinson. Chants of 'You don't know what you're doing' echoed around the away end, in protest at caretaker manger Dave Hamilton's decision. Paddy McCourt also came on in place of Keiron Durkan.

The young Irishman brought a bit of life to the game, as did Atko down the other wing. McCourt thought that he had won a penalty as well. He burst into the box, was completely poll-axed to the ground, in what was such a blatant foul. But typical of the decisions today, we did not get the penalty which it should of been. The ball in fact dropped to Flitcroft who then wellied against the bar, before Pool cleared the danger.

A few moments later McCourt again went down, this time though it probably wasn't a penalty. But once again surely McCourt should of been booked for diving, if it wasn't a penalty. Another show of bad officiating.

All in all this was a poor performance from Dale. Things got better in the second half, but we were well below par today. Things are no longer rosy at Spotland. The fact remains we need a manager, and judging by the comments coming from the away end today, Dave Hamilton is not the man to lead us out of Division 3. The fans once again are still left wondering though 'What the hell is going on!'

Photo: Action Images

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