Dale made the short trip to the mini CoMS with an experienced line-up, which included former City boys Nathan D’Laryea and Lee Crooks.
But it was the Blues who made most of the early running and James Spencer did well to keep the visitors in the game at times in goal.
He couldn’t stop Robbie Mak from giving City the lead though on 24 minutes as he latched on to a throughball before finishing well.
Despite dominating the first 45 minutes, a slip from Matthew Brown gave Will Buckley the chance to level the scores, but Greg Hartley came out on top in the one-on-one to deny Dale.
Into the second half and Mak worked an opening for himself just short of the hour mark but his fine right footed curler bent just wide of Spencer’s goal.
Rochdale came more into the game as time wore on and after 66 minutes they pulled level. Jake Richardson burst through the middle of the pitch after getting the break of the ball and from the edge of the box he put it low past Hartley into the net.
Thompson then missed a gilt-edged chance for Dale, heading wide from six-yards out, following good wing play by Buckley.
And two minutes from time City punished the Spotland men despite Spencer’s best efforts in goal. Moments earlier the keeper pulled off a couple of fantastic saves, but after more neat play from Tsiaklis, Weiss and Morris, Ian Daly bundled home the winner from close range.
City:
Hartley, Paldan (Morris 79), Ramsey, Boyata, Brown, Tutte, Mak, Tsiaklis, I.Daly, Nimely-Tchuimeni (Weiss 73), Poole.
unused subs: Johansen, Chantler, McDermott.
Rochdale:
Spencer, Holness, Evans (Bowyer 63), D’Laryea, Crooks, Richardson, Muirhead, Doolan, Wharton (Sheriff 72), Buckley, Thompson.
unused subs: Flitcroft, Lambert, Farrell.
