The injury-plagued midfielder looked as if he’d never been away with a range of passing that oozed Premier League class, but it was goals from Alex Nimely, Abdi Ibrahim and a brace from John Giudetti that settled the game.
Andy Welsh’s team were the hungrier of the two teams from the start and after only nine minutes, Nimely was denied by a good save from Rochdale goalkeeper Edwards. Two minutes later and the Blues had the lead.
The lively Donal McDermott found space on the left to cross for Guidetti whose header struck the bar, but the rebound fell kindly for Nimely who was on hand to tap home.
Scott Kay looked set to double the Blues’ advantage but saw his shot hit the woodwork on 35 minutes.
The second half proved more fruitful for City as Guidetti and Ibrahim both scored within ten minutes of the restart to put the hosts in a commanding position and one, in truth, they were never in danger of losing.
Guidetti, playing his first game since returning from a loan spell with Burnley, continued to impose himself on the Rochdale backline and when Javan Vidal’s low cross beat both the defence and the keeper, the Swede was on hand to help himself to City’s fourth and complete a satisfactory evening for Welsh’s side
