If we're being really honest, then perhaps we'd be disappointed. Disappointed, because based on the balance of the game, then the Chester fans will have gone away from this game happier with the scoreline. Because make no mistake, we absolutely battered them tonight and the 4-0 scoreline flattered them.

We scored four goals, had numerous good saves by the Chester keeper and arguably somewhere between 2 and 4 goals disallowed by the referee who's ears were no doubt happy to find out that Stanton wouldn't be abusing him due to suspension. Honestly, I think if we had scored ten goals tonight, the Chester fans would have gone away without any complaints.

Talk after the game was whether it was a case of Chester being so bad or Dale being so good. Well we can point to their recent form and suggest they are properly bobbins right now, but on that very same form table we are deservedly top, and we've stuck four goals away from home this season at a lot better sides than Chester.

And with Keith Hill away pulling a sickie (aye we've all done it Keith!) we started the game with just one change from the side that beat the league leaders at the weekend. Marcus Holness was recalled to replace Nathan "F*** O*** you C****** S****Y E***** referee" Stanton, and we kicked off the first half to the rather sparse looking home end at the Deva Stadium which had its usual stench lurking from the surrounding area.

To be fair to the home side, they were in the game for the first five minutes. In fact, helped with what seemed like a succession of early decisions by the referee, they didn't look like a side who were in such a bad run of form. It didn't last.

But it could have been so much different. We had Sam Russell to thank for preserving our clean sheet run, with what looked a top class save. It was a chance that you couldn't quite tell whether it came off a Chester player or one of our own, but it produced a lightening reaction from the former Darlo keeper. A game changing save if ever you saw one.

And that was it from the home side. I don't recall another chance by them for the remainder of the game.

Now if we were to start listing every Dale chance which happened during the game, then this report would start taking on a War and Peace style length. Let's just say, we had so many chances that had we could have scored enough goals to have won every game between now and the end of the season.

We went 1-0 up through Le Fondre half an hour into the game with a chance which was almost a complete repeat of something which happened earlier in the game. A fantastic cross from Higginbotham, saw the ball spill to Le Fondre at the far post who finished with ease from exactly the same position that he spooned it seconds earlier. If at first you don't succeed and all that.....

And then the self destruction button was pressed by the homeside. Chester won a corner down the right hand side as we saw it from the away end, and in the process Kevin Ellison dragged a Dale player down by his neck with what was a needless and nasty challenge by Chester's best. It was ignored by the official.

Fortunately, seconds later, he noticed something that many of the Dale fans themselves had missed. With all eyes trained on the Chester corner taker, the referee's whistle brought our attention to the region around the penalty spot where Simon Ramsden was slumped on the floor holding his face. Suggestions were either an elbow or a headbutt from Ellison depending who saw what. Video evidence will no doubt prove or disprove anything, but as I said in a Wenger stylee, I did not see the incident.  The referee had no doubts and produced the red card straight away. This was the first of many potential red cards for Chester.

Minutes later, it was 2-0. And whilst much talk has turned to how we'd cope with no Glenn Murray and possible replacements, it seems if we need a goalscorer, then we should turn our attentions to a former Dale player. Not Holt, not Connor, not Lambert but Butler. Because Butler produced a sublime finish past his own keeper to double our advantage. Game over, and questions were asked about how many goals we could actually score.

Well it could have been a hatful, given the gulf in class between the sides. Is it really only two years since Chester were the best side we'd played all season? the second half could only question whether they were likely to do a Shrewsbury or a York and produce a long decline toward the Conference.

In their favour, they had a chance in the opening minute or so, but to mention anything else as threatening would simply be patronising of our Cestrian opponents.

From that moment, it was comedy time. Every time Chester got the ball, we won it back. With ease. The metaphor of taking candy from a baby above is no exaggeration.

They all could have scored tonight, and individually they tried to. Chester were there for the taking and arguably, we simply toyed with them and teased them as if they were still there with a hope from the game.

Former Dale defender Paul Butler and on the night equal top scorer was praised for his part in the two goal lead. He didn't take too kindly to comments emanating from the away end, and responded with the sort of hand gestures that other clubs' supporters would no doubt been straight on the phone to 606 to complain about or launching a petition. Butler, you lost it, letting us get to you and then spent the rest of the game listening out for what next might be sung to him. When this sort of thing gets to you, then perhaps its time to hang up your boots. See you at Gigg Lane next season then.

But Butler clearly still wound up acted like he was playing for a pub team (who could blame him?), and his challenge on Alfie would have been a straight red card had it took place anywhere other than in our own half.

And then came goal of the season. Are you listening Mr Casper? Tom Kennedy was suddenly possessed by the ghost of Paddy past and waltzed his way through the Chester defence, even threatening to shoot with his right foot at one point. We didn't think it much of a threat, but eventually he settled on his right having beaten half the Chester side on the way to put the game beyond doubt. Can we thank our feeder club from down the road for their part in his development? We dedicate this goal to you.

From there on in, there must have been private bets amongst the players about who would score next. We tried walking it into the net over and over again, and should circumstances have dictated it, we could have doubled our eventual scoreline with ease.

Perkins looked set to make it four but as he chose to shot, he was brought down on the edge of the box, and there's not a barrister in the country who could have defended the defender's case as the referee produced a red card. He was the second of what could have been enough to secure the game getting abandoned. There's real issues at Chester.

But three was not to be enough, and with time running out, substitute Adam Rundle finished it off with a run down the left wing before finishing from a close angle past Danby. It doesn't get easier than this.

At one point, I likened our side to playground bullies, as we not only emphasised our dominance, we rubbed it in the faces of the Chester side who must have felt they were up against a side from many divisions higher.

I'd go beyond that. The Dale fans were in truly condescending mode, with cheering the opposition every time they touched the ball. Taking the piss didn't come close.

Now I know I'm starting to get a bit carried away at this point, but in 27 years of watching Dale, it's hard to think of a time where we've been better than we currently are. I appreciate there's an awful lot of crap to compare ourselves with during that time, but have we ever had it this good in the modern era?

On the drive home, talk inevitably turned towards the dreaded P word. But there was even mention of whether the C word (the 9 letter one rather than the 4 letter one) was possible. Thank the Footballing Gods we celebrated staying up tonight rather than anything else.