Match ends, Mansfield Town 3, Rochdale 0.
MansfieldMansfield Town3RochdaleRochdale0
Mansfield stunned title-chasing Rochdale and boosted their own play-off hopes with victory at the One Call Stadium.
Scott Hogan went close for the visitors, forcing a good low save from Lewis Price.
Martin Riley and Matt Rhead both headed in from James Jennings corners to give the Stags a two-goal lead late on.
And Dale were undone from a set-piece again as Ryan Tafazolli headed in Chris Clements' free-kick in stoppage time.
Mansfield now lie in 10th, six points behind seventh-placed Oxford. Rochdale are second, a single point behind Scunthorpe in the race for the League Two title.
Mansfield manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"I think we are playing well at the minute and without shouting from the roof tops, I think we can beat anyone when we are playing like this.
We've come up against a very good side who will get promotion.
"But its what we've been doing over the last couple of months and we are enjoying our football at the minute."
Rochdale manager Keith Hill told BBC Radio Manchester:
"We knew we were going to endure a direct style of play but they've got good players once they get the ball into that final third.
"I have to be able to forgive the players and I will do. We're in a great position and I'm really looking forward to the remainder of the season.
"Arguably the game was always going to hinge on the first goal, but when we concede one we shouldn't be conceding two more after that."
Line-ups
Mansfield
Formation 3-5-2
- 33Price
- 28Westlake
- 16Jennings
- 12TafazolliBooked at 14mins
- 6Riley
- 2Sutton
- 21Murray
- 19Clements
- 36PalmerSubstituted forClucasat 80'minutes
- 9Rhead
- 30DanielSubstituted forThomasat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Dempster
- 7Briscoe
- 10Stevenson
- 11Clucas
- 14Speight
- 20Meikle
- 26Thomas
Rochdale
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Lillis
- 2Rafferty
- 16DoneBooked at 40mins
- 4CavanaghBooked at 61minsSubstituted forDonnellyat 75'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 3Bennett
- 6LancashireBooked at 27mins
- 7VincentiSubstituted forCumminsat 66'minutes
- 24Allen
- 11HoganBooked at 52mins
- 12LundSubstituted forKennedyat 66'minutes
- 40Henderson
Substitutes
- 5Eastham
- 8Kennedy
- 9Donnelly
- 21Thomson
- 25Rose
- 29Cummins
- 39Bunney
- Referee:
- Trevor Kettle
- Attendance:
- 3,843
Match Stats
Home TeamMansfieldAway TeamRochdale
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Mansfield Town 3, Rochdale 0.
Post update
Martin Riley (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by George Donnelly (Rochdale).
Booking
George Donnelly (Rochdale) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. Jack Thomas replaces Colin Daniel.
Goal!
Goal! Mansfield Town 3, Rochdale 0. Ryan Tafazolli (Mansfield Town) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Chris Clements with a cross.
Post update
James Jennings (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Joseph Rafferty (Rochdale).
Post update
Foul by Chris Clements (Mansfield Town).
Post update
Matt Done (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Mansfield Town 2, Rochdale 0. Matthew Rhead (Mansfield Town) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Jennings with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Rhys Bennett.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rhys Bennett (Rochdale) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Martin Riley.
Post update
Attempt saved. Joseph Rafferty (Rochdale) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Matthew Rhead (Mansfield Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt saved. Graham Cummins (Rochdale) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. Samuel Clucas replaces Ollie Palmer.
Post update
Attempt missed. Oliver Lancashire (Rochdale) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
