Rochdale’s impressive goalscoring record away from home, they’re the SkyBet League 1 top goalscorers on their travels, was always going to make them a difficult challenge for The Glovers.
A 3-0 defeat at Huish Park on Saturday wasn’t really expected though and certainly wasn’t wanted with the crowed making their feelings perfectly clear at fulltime.
Defensively we’ve not learned anything at all during the season as we continue to concede cheaply. When Jack O’Connell was left unmarked and unchallenged he planed a header past Artur Krysiak to set the early tone.
The game was over after just 15 minutes when more defensive shortcomings were exposed, and capitalised on, when Crystal Palace loanee defender Ryan Inniss cleared poorly with a had that left Ian Henderson with a gift he happily accepted.
Manchester City loanee Jordy Hiwula is still awaiting his first Glovers goal, which would have come had Rochdale goalkeeper Conrad Logan not wonderfully saved to stop us from halving the deficit.
The race was run early in the second half when a third goal came.
Matt Done’s run and cross was met by the head of Henderson with the Rochdale captain scoring his second of the game to ensure there wouldn’t be any, albeit unlikely anyway, Glovers comeback.
The SkyBet Championship, which we were playing in last season remember, seems a long time ago now with a place in the SkyBet League 2 next season looking a distinct possibility the way things are going!
It’s little wonder, after another woeful performance, the fans voiced their discontent at fulltime.
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I made a last minute decision to go to the game yesterday, returning to Poole resenting the £25 paid for what I felt was minimal entertainment. The game reinforced my view that there are too many players in this seasons squad who do not have the skill levels required for a top six L1 side. Sokalik was awful yesterday, Leitch-Smith brings nothing to the team, Nugent is poor. The managers efforts to reinforce his team with a couple of quality young loanees, which has reaped dividends in recent years has failed to make a positive impact. Innes looked hesitant and error-prone yesterday and Jordy has wasted plenty of chances. Our most skillful player, Joel Grant, didn’t even make it onto the bench.
It may be cold comfort but I thought Rochdale were a very good side full of energy and pace, moved the ball around quickly and exploited the open spaces the Yeovil players left for them. I will not be surprised if they occupy one of the promotion places in May.
Our fans were hammered yesterday too, being out-sung by a handful of excellent Dale fans from the first whistle. There were also a few ridiculous ‘Johnson out’ choruses from the home terrace and only a few minutes of rousing support for the team midway through the second half.
We all need to do better, from the boardroom to the terraces.