Dale crashed out of the FA Cup in this second round replay in South Yorkshire, after being reduced to ten men yet again.

Dale crashed out of the FA Cup in this second round replay in South Yorkshire, after being reduced to ten men yet again. This time it really counted against Dale as they collapsed under their numerical disadvantage.

What can I say? Dale suffered a second half collapse reminiscent of the England Cricket team. It all could have been so different had Dale not suffered the sending off of Mark Monington after twenty odd minutes.

Dale started with the return of Paul Sparrow after a one match suspension for Andy Barlow and a return of Mark Stuart for loan man Michael Holt. They started brightly enough and took the game to the home side. Things looked really promising till the Mark Monington incident. I must admit that it appeared to me that Monington pushed one of their players and was immediately red carded for it. Reports later suggested that Monington clearly connected with the guy in the face. If that was the case, then he deserved to go, and can have no argument with it at all. This is the second time this season, that referee Walton has sent Monington off.

Despite the home team's numerical advantage, Dale were still the better side and continued to press forward. Robbie Painter again suffered from being the lone striker. A couple of times, it looked like he was reluctant to chase the ball at all times. Whether he was pacing himself for the entire game, I do not know. He has tired a lot when playing this role.

Rotherham took the lead with about five or so minutes from the end. A ball was played into the box and at the second or third attempt went in. This was their first real shot on target in the first half. Undaunted, Dale continued to press forward, and were unlucky with a succession of attacks and corners. Dale were awarded a free kick outside the box, when perhaps advantage may have been a better option. A tame Mark Stuart free kick failed to trouble the keeper. All was not lost though as half time came as Dale had shown the spirit that had seen them through at Swansea on Saturday. A similar performance in the second half would see Dale fight till the end.

The second half started and within a minute Dale were two down. The Rotherham substitute scored an absolute beauty from outside the box on the Dale right hand side curling it above the outstretched Edwards into the top corner. This was the signal for the Dale players head to drop and afterwards we were witnesses to some fairly dreadful stuff. The Millers really press home their advantage and at times they were making it look very easy.

The third and fourth goals came soon enough and at one point it looked like Dale could be on the end of a massacre.
The decline in the second half saw all sorts in the Dale enclosure. We had the sad return of fans arguing amongst themselves, which almost led to violence at one point. There was also a lot of abuse to other fans and to the players. I've said it before and I'll say it again. This does us no favours. There is not enough of us to argue amongst ourselves.

The one bright point of the night was the display of Paul Carden who was an example to the other players in the team. Perhaps only Keith Hill was the other one of the entire team to come out of the team with any credit.
A little point about the ref. Maybe the sending off was justified, I would need to see it again to be sure, but the Rotherham players seemed to get away with a few challenges which seemed to merit yellow cards.

Dale: Edwards, Williams, Sparrow, Hill, Monington, Farrell, Carden, Painter, Stuart, Bryson, Peake subs Jones, Bailey and Barlow 

Photo: Action Images

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