Rochdale were beaten 2-0 by Dagenham and Redbridge in a shocking game at Spotland. 

Scott Wiseman replaced injured Simon Ramsden at right this afternoon, the only change to Keith Hill’s line up for the game against Dagenham and Redbridge.

Clark Keltie’s corners kept the visitors pressed inside their own six-yard box for a spell five minutes in but the first real chance came in the eighth minute when Paul Benson’s turn and shot beat Sam Russell but was cleared off the line by Wiseman.

The deadlock was almost broken in a strangely muted opening period when Sam Saunders’ corner in the 17^th minute was flicked on by Ben Strevens and the incoming Magnus Okuunghae fired over the top at full stretch.

Referee David Webb was hardly endearing himself to the home crowd with a succession of poor decisions, but Dale’s main problem was getting the ball down – it spent far too long in the air in a forgettable start to the match.

Dagenham took the lead after 30 minutes when left back Matthew Ritchie slid a low cross into a dangerous area and Benson nipped in ahead of Rory McArdle to divert the ball past Russell.

Jordan Rhodes carried the ball a long way forward, shrugging off Okuunghae in doing so, but his shot from the edge of the box curled harmlessly high. Gary Jones was just off target with another long-range effort

Peter Gain had a 25-yard attempt which swerved wide of Russell’s far post and Dale’s best chance came in the40th minute when Adam Rundle’s low cross was spilled by Tony Roberts, Rhodes pouncing but unable to nick the ball into the net.

Adam Le Fondre tested Roberts just before the break with a decent hit, but at half time it was advantage Dagenham.

In the 49^th minute, Rundle had a volley diverted over the top by Danny Foster.

Foster’s freekick at the other end in the 66^th minute almost led to Dagenham’s second, Benson flicking the ball against the crossbar with Russell beaten.

Dagenham’s second came in the 68^th minute when Saunders got to the byline before crossing for Benson. The striker’s flick was saved at point blank range by Russell, but the goalkeeper could only palm the ball into the path of Ritchie who had the simple task of nodding home from two yards.

Buckley had a shot cleared off the line late on, but by then the game was up.

Rochdale: Russell, Wiseman, McArdle, Stanton, Kennedy, Buckley, Jones, Keltie (Toner 78), Rundle (Thompson 79), Rhodes, Le Fondre (Dagnall 55). Subs not used: Holness, Spencer

Dagenham and Redbridge: Roberts, Foster, Taiwo, Arber, Gain, Griffiths, Ritchie (Nurse 83), Okuunghae, Saunders, Benson, Strevens (Thomas 88). Subs not used: Thompson, Uddin, Southam

Referee: D Webb

Att: 2,566