A boiling hot day to mark the beginning of the season as Rochdale hosted the league's new boys Yeovil Town but things didn't go as planned for Dale, but they did for Yeovil Town and the referee.

Right, well if you have come on here to read a peaceful list of events then you're in the wrong place, simple as that.  What are you going to get?  You should expect the biggest rant I have ever produced about a referee (Term used loosely!!!!!) as in my 12 years of watching Rochdale, I have been forced to endure some very bad referees but today we have a winner and I urge you to read the Cullenwatch report due online later as it may just be a good read!

Rochdale had the better of the game for most of the first half but on around 26 minutes, Rochdale went 1-0 down thanks to Kevin Gall who went past the defence and blasted the ball past Matt Gilks into the top of the net and Kevin Gall ran towards the dugout to celebrate his teams first goal in the football league, fair enough.

Rochdale still continued to play some cracking football but were failing to find the finishing touch until stoppage time of the first half when the much worried about Paul Connor went through one on one and nutmegged the Yeovil keeper to equalise and send the Dale crowd mad and Paul Connor runs over to the fans to celebrate only to be booked by the man claiming to be an official and this added to the horrendous decisions Mr Warren was making was enough to send the officials in at half time to a chorus of boos and chants by every part of the ground except the away supporters, who must have thought Christmas had come early with some of the decisions this completely inexcusable pillock, even the main stand!

Dale made a change at half time, that being Matt Doughty on for the ineffective Patrick McCourt.  Rochdale came out and tried to continue the good football they played but every single time we looked good the referee poked his nose in and made sure Yeovil would come out on top and sure enough he managed to get the 2nd goal for them.  On around 55 minutes Yeovil were awarded a freekick after a foul by Daryl Burgess and just as the Dale defence were lining up in the wall, Lee Johnson decides to take it quickly without a hint of a whistle and places it beyond Matt Gilks to make it 2-1.  Surely not a goal we thought but the referee (Again, term used very loosely!) looks over to his partner in crime and nods politely to him and awards the goal.

By this time we were wondering what the hell we could do to come back against a team with a 12 foot 9 inch defender and a 12th player in the bloody referee!  Needless to say the crowd were united in their anger and were united in a chant of "2-1 to the referee!!"

It didn't end their, oh no, the officials had to put the icing on the cake and that came just 10 minutes later when Kevin Gall notched his 2nd goal of the day despite being about 3 miles offside and the linesman making hand signals as if he had no idea!  Not only that but the referee looks at the Yeovil player celebrating with the fans and what does he do?  He gives him a thumbs up!!  by this time the Dale players must have thought what the hell is happening to us?  Why has the Devil sent this guy to Spotland and their heads dropped and you can't blame them as Warren had certainly earned all his bloody money! 

Don't bother looking on Sky Sports News for the highlights, they will more than likely be on CrimeWatch!

Rant over! 

Ratings:

Matt Gilks 7 No chance with any goal but made a couple of decent saves

Wayne Evans 7 Linked up well with Leo Bertos

Michael Simpkins 6 Never got a foot in when needed but his backpassing has imporved

Simon Grand 7 Played quite well, looked solid in the air but got beat for pace a couple of times

Daryl Burgess 7 See above

Leo Bertos 7 Crossing was very good and had a couple of decent chances

Patrick McCourt 6 Ineffective and taken off at half time

Sean McClare 7 Passing was spot on nearly all the time and he looked to create all the time

Chris Beech 7 Passing was good most of the time and was quite impressive

Chris Shuker 7 Very skillful but unfortunately got nothing off the monster at the back

Paul Connor 6 Scored the goal but looked generally poor after that

Subs:  

Matt Doughty 7 Did quite well after coming on at half time

Robert Betts 6 Missed his tackles, couldn't win the ball for the short time he was on

Lee McEvilly 6 Not on long and didn't have a big effect on the game for the time he was on

Apart from the referee who was simply shocking, Dale showed some encouraging signs and played quite well and we have no reason in my view to criticise the management for a single thing today.

Photo: Action Images

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