Dale crashed to their heaviest home defeat of the season as Hereford United scored four times at an unsponsored Spotland to make it three successive defeats for Keith Hill's side.

I write this report without having looked at the messageboard, but even without doing so, I can well imagine the reaction of supporters on there. There'll be talk of "not good enough", "rubbish", "wheels coming off" and other such comments.

Personally, I didn't see this game in that way. What I saw was a Dale side which, second half especially, didn't give up for one second, and whilst certainly not playing at the top of our game, were beaten by a side who were a different class going forward.

And that was a difference. Hereford looked a very decent outfit, and moved the ball around well, but once they got into our half, their pace and movement ripped us to shreds, and if you've anything about you, you can only pay tribute to them rather use their skills as a tool to beat your own side with.

The game kicked off with Gary Jones being offered a tunnel of congratulations by both sides to commemorate his 300th League appearance in a Dale shirt at the weekend. Let it be said, that this is a fantastic achievement and as someone who grew up in an era where Dale started each season with an almost completely new squad to the one which finished the season before, it's something I thought I'd never see. That said, surely the plaudits should be saved for a handful of games yet when he breaks the club all time record appearances total.

We started with the same side that started at Lincoln, meaning Sam Russell retained his place between the sticks, and Adam Rundle featured on his unfamiliar right wing. Hereford lined up with a formation which allowed them three attackers.

To begin with, it all went according to plan. We had a corner in the opening five minutes or so, which was met by Simon Ramsden who's header seemed to come off the keeper to put Dale in front. This was just what we needed and with many people putting our lack of points from home matches down to the opposition, they'd have been licking their lips given the early goal.

However, they were soon holding their head in their hands as within minutes of going in front, the opposition were back on level terms. Whilst supporters were treated to some mysterious lady speaking over the tannoy, Hereford broke away, passed the ball about like we weren't even there, and gave it to the first ever player called Sherjill to grace the Spotland surface who fired it past Russell.

And before we had time to catch our breath, it was 2-1, and again it was a masterclass of passing and pace from Hereford which proved to be the difference. Our defence which has proved time and again to be so solid this season were left mesmerized and chasing shadows. And it was that man Sherjill again taking full advantage.

Now from this point on, the game was lost. Not because we gave up, but because the visitors held all the cards, and with their style of play, it made things extremely easy for them. The more we tried to push forward, the more they found things easier from an attacking sense.

Indeed, arguably they'd only been in our half twice and they'd scored two goals. Well they made it three times on the half hour mark, and they kept up their goals for times in our half ratio to extend their lead further.

It was Sherjill again who completed a first half hat trick with a goal which mirrored the first two. Pass, pass, pass, goal. This was attacking from a side completely alien to a division which has been home to the likes of Drewe Broughton and Julian Alsop over the years. They were that good that you almost felt like screaming out "It's not fair".

Half time brought a major shake up, which in truth we were crying out for, if for no other reason than we needed to try something. Kallum Higginbotham and Will Buckley came on for Doolan and McArdle, and we went for it.

And with the crowd offering backing, it looked like there was a chance that we might turn this round. We certainly did go for it in the second half, and we had the visitors on the back foot for long periods of the second half. Back foot it may have been, but it was a foot that they seemed pretty capable of standing on.

We chucked everything at them in the opening minutes, with a lead for a cushion, Hereford were more than happy to sit back and defend their lead. There were one or two moments which would no doubt give the fan bashing Hereford manager Graham Turner a couple of hairy moments, there was precious few out and out chances.

It certainly wasn't a half of doom and gloom. The introduction of Buckley offered much optimism for the future, and whilst I can imagine he'll spend much time lamenting the moment, he missed the opportunity to hit home a rebound, he should take great encouragement from his showing.

But as we said, whilst we were throwing everything forward, it was something that Hereford were quite prepared to sit tight and take advantage of when the time was right, and with twenty minutes left on the clock, that time was indeed right, and Sherjill allowed one of his team mates to get on the score sheet as Hooper made it four, and many Dads decided that the kids had been out late enough, and fans started making their way to the exits.

Those that did missed out on a well deserved ovation for Sherjill Macdonald as he was subbed by the visitors, and a late consolation for ourselves, when Rene Howe headed home a late corner.

The final whistle brought a lot more applause from the home supporters than the half time whistle did, and rightfully so, but it was most certainly an evening where we were beaten by the better side on the night, proving yet again that at the top end of this division, anyone can beat anyone.

Right, where's that manager of the month award gone...... 

Photo: Action Images

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