Managerless Stevenage began life without Graham Westley with a win as they overpowered lowly Rochdale.

Boro took the lead when new signing Luke Freeman's shot squirmed in, before Lawrie Wilson hammered in their second.

Brett Ormerod's powerful strike gave Dale hope, but the visitors restored the advantage through Wilson's finish.

Dale's Joe Widdowson then received a second yellow before both Freeman and Joel Byrom fired home to compound the host's misery.

Following the departure of Westley earlier on Saturday, Stevenage club captain Mark Roberts took charge of first team affairs for his sides' trip to Spotland.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Stevenage caretaker player-manager Mark Roberts told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We came here with a game plan and we executed it superbly. We scored some fantastic goals today and it was a great all-round performance.

"We took a bit more pressure than we would have liked but we absorbed what they threw at us quite well, and grew into the game.

"All we were focussed about was this game and making sure we got three very important points for us. It was important to keep our away run going.

"It is always an honour to lead this football club and I can't thank the lads enough for all the help they have given me. The support has been phenomenal and it helped produce the performance on the pitch."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Rochdale

  • 01 Kurucz
  • 03 Widdowson Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 04 Holness
  • 17 Holden
  • 22 Jordan
  • 07 Kennedy (Amankwaah - 68' )
  • 08 Jones
  • 11 Adams (Ball - 46' )
  • 15 Thompson (Grimes - 46' )
  • 19 Bogdanovic
  • 30 Ormerod

Substitutes

  • 23 Lucas
  • 05 Amankwaah
  • 10 Grimes
  • 26 Akpa Akpro
  • 39 Ball

Stevenage

  • 16 Day
  • 03 Laird
  • 05 Ashton
  • 14 Roberts
  • 25 Henry
  • 02 Wilson Booked
  • 13 Byrom
  • 15 Freeman (Long - 73' )
  • 24 Bostwick
  • 04 Charles (Edwards - 60' )
  • 20 Beardsley (Cowan - 77' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Julian
  • 06 Edwards
  • 08 Long
  • 32 Shroot
  • 18 Cowan
Ref: Webster
Att: 2,367

Match Stats

Shots

11 29

On target

7 16

Corners

6 12

Fouls

5 7

Live Text Commentary

92:27

The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +1:46

Ashley Grimes takes a shot. Blocked by Don Cowan.

90:00 +1:22

David Ball decides to take a short corner.

89:52

Daniel Bogdanovic takes a shot. Save made by Chris Day.

89:31

Free kick taken by Gary Jones.

89:31 Booking

Booking Lawrie Wilson is cautioned.

89:23

Foul by Lawrie Wilson on Daniel Bogdanovic, free kick awarded.

88:00

Foul by Phil Edwards on Daniel Bogdanovic, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Daniel Bogdanovic.

87:08

Don Cowan handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Daniel Bogdanovic takes the free kick.

85:21

Don Cowan produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

84:56

David Ball takes a shot. Save made by Chris Day.

84:46

Ashley Grimes takes a shot. Phil Edwards gets a block in.

84:04

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom from the right by-line, clearance by Brett Ormerod.

83:40

Don Cowan sends in a cross, Dean Holden makes a clearance.

83:14

The ball is crossed by Ronnie Henry, save made by Peter Kurucz.

81:14

Corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom from the right by-line, Unfair challenge on Kevin Amankwaah by Jon Ashton results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Peter Kurucz.

79:52

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by David Ball, Close range strike by Kevin Amankwaah goes over the bar.

79:12

Joel Byrom has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

78:16

Corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Jon Ashton misses to the right of the target.

78:04

Don Cowan takes a shot. Save by Peter Kurucz.

77:18

Stacy Long concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Jones. Free kick taken by Dean Holden.

76:06 Substitution

Substitution Chris Beardsley leaves the field to be replaced by Don Cowan.

76:06

Brett Ormerod is flagged offside by the assistant referee.

76:06

Chris Day restarts play with the free kick.

76:06 Substitution

Substitution Chris Beardsley goes off and Don Cowan comes on.

76:06

The official flags Brett Ormerod offside.

75:34

Stacy Long takes a shot. Peter Kurucz makes a save.

75:06

Michael Bostwick takes a shot. Brett Ormerod gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom, clearance by Kevin Amankwaah.

74:04

The assistant referee flags for offside against Chris Beardsley. Dean Holden restarts play with the free kick.

72:49 Substitution

Substitution Stacy Long on for Luke Freeman.

72:15

Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Grimes to the near post, Brett Ormerod produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

72:05

Daniel Bogdanovic takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Freeman.

70:50

The assistant referee flags for offside against Chris Beardsley. Peter Kurucz takes the direct free kick.

70:25

Close range effort by Luke Freeman misses to the left of the goal.

67:47 Substitution

Substitution Jason Kennedy leaves the field to be replaced by Kevin Amankwaah.

67:29

Chris Beardsley takes a shot. Peter Kurucz gets a block in.

66:25

Chris Beardsley takes a shot. Marcus Holness gets a block in.

65:06

Luke Freeman provided the assist for the goal.

65:06 Goal scored

Goal - Joel Byrom - Rochdale 1 - 5 Stevenage Joel Byrom grabs a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Rochdale 1-5 Stevenage.

60:28

Corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom from the left by-line, Chris Beardsley takes a shot. Save by Peter Kurucz.

60:10

Joel Byrom takes the inswinging corner, save made by Peter Kurucz.

59:55 Substitution

Substitution Darius Charles goes off and Phil Edwards comes on.

59:24

Lawrie Wilson takes a shot. Jason Kennedy gets a block in.

57:34 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Freeman - Rochdale 1 - 4 Stevenage A goal is scored by Luke Freeman from just outside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Rochdale 1-4 Stevenage.

56:41

Corner taken right-footed by Daniel Bogdanovic from the left by-line, David Ball takes a shot. Blocked by Jon Ashton.

55:06

Free kick taken by Scott Laird, Joel Byrom takes a shot. Save by Peter Kurucz.

55:06 Dismissal

Dismissal Joe Widdowson sent from the field by the ref for second bookable offence.

54:55

Joe Widdowson challenges Chris Beardsley unfairly and gives away a free kick.

53:51

Shot by Brett Ormerod from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

52:59 Goal scored

Goal - Lawrie Wilson - Rochdale 1 - 3 Stevenage Lawrie Wilson grabs a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Rochdale 1-3 Stevenage.

51:59

Daniel Bogdanovic provided the assist for the goal.

51:59 Goal scored

Goal - Brett Ormerod - Rochdale 1 - 2 Stevenage A goal is scored by Brett Ormerod from inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Rochdale 1-2 Stevenage.

51:35

Michael Bostwick takes a shot. Save made by Peter Kurucz.

51:02

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joel Byrom, Marcus Holness manages to make a clearance.

50:08

Ronnie Henry takes a shot. Peter Kurucz makes a save.

48:53

Outswinging corner taken by Joel Byrom.

47:41

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom from the right by-line, save made by Peter Kurucz.

45:42

Chris Beardsley provided the assist for the goal.

45:42 Goal scored

Goal - Lawrie Wilson - Rochdale 0 - 2 Stevenage Lawrie Wilson gets on the score sheet with a goal from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Rochdale 0-2 Stevenage.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Grimes is brought on as a substitute for Joe Thompson.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution David Ball on for Nicky Adams.

45:00 +2:05

It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:28

The ball is crossed by Nicky Adams, save made by Chris Day.

44:32

Corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom from the left by-line, Header from deep inside the area by Jon Ashton goes over the bar.

43:26

Unfair challenge on Brett Ormerod by Lawrie Wilson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gary Jones.

40:02

Gary Jones concedes a free kick for a foul on Lawrie Wilson. Scott Laird produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Peter Kurucz.

37:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Freeman by Dean Holden. Direct free kick taken by Joel Byrom, Header from close range by Jon Ashton misses to the right of the target.

36:52

Effort from just outside the box by Luke Freeman goes over the bar.

36:15

Joel Byrom takes the outswinging corner, Joe Thompson manages to make a clearance.

35:52

Michael Bostwick takes a shot. Brett Ormerod gets a block in.

32:47

Lawrie Wilson takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.

28:29

Joe Widdowson is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Chris Day.

26:13

Darius Charles takes a shot. Blocked by Marcus Holness. Lawrie Wilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Daniel Bogdanovic. Daniel Bogdanovic restarts play with the free kick.

25:37

The free kick is delivered left-footed by Joel Byrom from right wing, Gary Jones gets a block in.

25:37 Booking

Booking Joe Widdowson is cautioned.

25:09

Unfair challenge on Chris Beardsley by Joe Widdowson results in a free kick.

20:46

Shot by Joel Byrom from outside the box goes high over the target.

19:31

Unfair challenge on Darius Charles by Stephen Jordan results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Ronnie Henry, Peter Kurucz makes a save.

17:44 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Freeman - Rochdale 0 - 1 Stevenage Luke Freeman scores a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Rochdale 0-1 Stevenage.

16:13

The referee blows for offside against Daniel Bogdanovic. Direct free kick taken by Ronnie Henry.

15:24

Darius Charles gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marcus Holness. Free kick taken by Peter Kurucz.

14:50

Scott Laird takes a shot. Brett Ormerod gets a block in.

11:22

Header from deep inside the area by Scott Laird goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

10:53

Joel Byrom decides to take a short corner.

8:52

Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams to the near post, clearance made by Jon Ashton.

7:55

The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Beardsley. Stephen Jordan takes the direct free kick.

4:29

Outswinging corner taken by Nicky Adams, Dean Holden takes a shot.

2:02

The referee blows for offside against Nicky Adams. Direct free kick taken by Chris Day.

0:00

The match begins.

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