Wycombe Wanderers 0 Rochdale 3

Last updated : 21 August 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Wycombe crashed to their first defeat of the season when they comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Rochdale at the Causeway Stadium.

Rochdale should have been ahead by half-time as both Grant Holt and Paul Tait missed good chances to put them in front.

Wycombe were never able to get hold of the ball and this was to be the case throughout the 90 minutes.

In the second half it was very much more of the same and it came as a relief to the visitors when Holt scored with an overhead kick on 70 minutes following a corner.

Wycombe manager Tony Adams tried to ring the changes by using three substitutes but his team were never able to dominate the midfield area.

A late penalty arrived for Rochdale when Gus Uhlenbeek tugged back Tait in the area and Gary Jones scored from the spot.

Sub Leighton McGivern capped the Rochdale show with a fine solo goal a minute later after going past four Wycombe defenders before lashing a 20-yard shot past goalkeeper Frank Talia.

It was a sorry afternoon for the home side that had looked very confident in their opening three matches, but Rochdale were well organised and a strong looking outfit who thoroughly deserved their victory.