ROCHDALE manager Keith Hill missed his side's romp but acting boss Dave Flitcroft said: "This victory is for the gaffer. He is our leader in everything he does and I asked the players to put in a performance for him - and they did just that."

After a start in which the visitors gave as good as they received, Dale took the lead midway through the first-half when Adam LeFondre turned the ball home from close range and immediately after Kevin Ellison was dismissed for the home side after what appeared to be an off-the-ball head butt on Dale's Simon Ramsden.

Just before the break the visitors doubled their lead when, under pressure from LeFondre, home skipper Paul Butler turned the ball past his own keeper.

Defender Tom Kennedy scored a wonderful individual goal to make it three for Dale.

Then, after Lawrence Wilson was the second home player to see red, Dale added a fourth in the 87th minute when substitute Adam Rundle scored from a tight angle.

Rochdale remain unbeaten on their travels since the opening day of the season.

They have now moved into the play-off places despite playing two and in some cases three fewer games than the teams around them in the promotion race.

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