Keith Hill made 5 changes from the team that started at Southend, as Michael Rose, Joe Bunney and Mendez-Laing who all made such a difference from the bench last weekend all started. Ashley Eastham also came in for Olly Lancashire at centre-back whilst Andy Cannon returned at right-back after serving his suspension. It was Cannon who had the first real opportunity of the match when he broke into the penalty box, but the 19-year-old executed a dive that Tom Daley would've been proud of, and was rightly booked. Swindon seemed content to pass the ball around the back without really pressing forward and it only seemed a matter of time before Dale started to make chances. Jonathan Obika did have the ball in the back of the net for the away side after a rare foray forward but the striker was well offside. Bunny had a shot turned behind following excellent work from Mendez-Laing out wide as Dale started to push forward in search of an opener. Dale eventually took the lead when Rose's corner caused chaos in the Swindon box, coming off the bar before Mendez-Laing's header eventually crossed the line. This unsettled the away side and Dale's pressure created an excellent chance for Bunney but instead of picking his spot he tried to beat the defender and the chance had gone when he was forced out wide by Adam El-Abd. Dale's set pieces were also causing the away side a lot of problems, with a lot of shirt-pulling evident in their attempts to prevent Dale attackers from making contact with the pacey whipped balls in. The shirt-pulling was especially evident on Peter Vincenti as Dale's top scorer was left looking more like a 1970's disco dancer such was the size of the rip in his shirt.
Despite their dominance it was only 1-0 at half-time and Hill's team made a great start to the second half and keep the game within their control. Bunney did brilliantly to hold up the ball out wide and he eventually picked out the marauding Vincenti, who's shot was well saved by away keeper Lawrence Vigouroux but the rebound fell straight to Mendez-Laing, and the winger smashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Swindon looked a shadow of the team that visited Spotland last season as their play seemed to follow a simple cycle of passing the ball around the back before sending a hopeful ball forward. Swindon have missed many of the influential players from last season's success, such as Massimo Luongo and Jack Stephens and their showing was very much one of a side languishing in the bottom 4 of the table. The loan signing of Ben Gladwin, ineligible today, who was so impressive last season will surely be a boost to new manager Martin Ling's side, but they will need to improve quickly if they are to stay up this season. Dale sealed the win when Joe Bunney was hauled down in the penalty area when he was about to finish from Matthew Lund's excellent cross and Mendez-Laing smashed the subsequent penalty down the middle. Referee Chris Sarginson had originally awarded a corner but seemed to be swayed by the logic of the Dale players and his linesman to eventually give the penalty. Ajose did give the away fans something to cheer when he tucked home a penalty just a minute later, after Bradley Barry was tripped by Scott Tanser, but Dale saw out the win with ease. Only the worrying late injury to Callum Camps, who was stretchered off, put a dampener on the result but Hill and fans alike will be glad that their run of 5 games without a win is now over.
Full Time: Rochdale 3-1 Swindon
Man of the Match: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing