James Belshaw - 8
Made a number of good saves in the first half, but for each the flag had been raised for offside. Still, it was clear he was in good form and he made an important save from Devante Rodney early in the second half. It proved crucial, with Rovers being sparked into life from that moment and they took the lead soon after.
James Gibbons - 6
The accuracy of his passing left something to be desired, but he was fully committed to his defensive duties and he made a telling impact in the Rochdale box, applying an excellent glancing header to Evans' corner that gave Sinclair a simple finish at the back stick to put Rovers ahead.
Bobby Thomas - 6
Sprayed the ball around pretty well in the first half, but there were some sloppy moments from the centre-back. He got a shout from Belshaw to leave a low cross but it was too late for Thomas to react and he poked the ball against his own post before it landed kindly in the arms of Belshaw in the second half. Thomas was fortunate again in the second period when he was robbed of the ball by veteran striker Ian Henderson, and the Burnley loanee was pleased to see him put the chance wide. There were some better moments, too, and he played his part in the clean sheet.
James Connolly - 6
Back in the starting lineup with 90 good minutes in the bank. Spent a lot of time on the ball with Rovers intent on building out from the back. Generally, he moved it well, but he's had sharper games. After a long time out injured, these minutes will do him the world of good.
Lewis Gordon - 6
Had a busy afternoon with Abraham Odoh among Rochdale's bigger threats and there were some scares, but Gordon got stuck in and helped preserve the clean sheet.
Sam Finley (c) - 7
Was uncharacteristically imprecise in the first half, but he pulled the strings after the break and stretched the Rochdale defence with some intelligent passes.
Jordan Rossiter - 7
Rovers were sluggish but Rossiter helped spark them into life in the second half. He doggedly pressed and regained possession to increase the pressure on the Dale defence until the Gas eventually broke through.
Luke McCormick - 6
Plugged away in the first half but cut a frustrated figure at times with the ball not often coming his way. Several decent runs in behind were ignored, but he was a bit more influential after the interval and he was unlucky to see two good crosses go just out of his reach in the area.
Antony Evans - 6
Could have done a bit more on the ball in open play, but he delivered a good set piece for the opening goal, and he did masses of work off the ball to get Rovers over the line on a day when they were short of their best form.
Scott Sinclair - 8
Rovers best player in the first half, showing his speed with a pair of menacing bursts into the box. Continued in the same vein after the break and was in the right place at the right time to score his first Gas goal, almost 18 years after his debut. Could have had a second but his shot was too close to Richard O'Donnell. The goal was important, but his performance and fitness will be hugely encouraging for Joey Barton.
Aaron Collins - 7
Frustrated in the first half, unable to convert a couple of good chances, but he was undeterred in the second half and although the chances didn't fall his way, he was unlucky not to end with an assist or two.
Substitutes
Harvey Saunders (for McCormick on 63') - 7
Made an instant impact, forcing the corner that led to Sinclair's opening goal. Always ups the tempo off the bench.
Trevor Clarke (for Sinclair on 79') - 6
Played on the left of the front three and his fresh legs were valuable, but he missed a golden chance to kill the game, putting Collins' cross wide from close range. Didn't matter in the end.
Glenn Whelan (for Evans on 79') - 6
Saw it out.
Not used: Anssi Jaakkola, Luca Hoole, Alfie Kilgour, Zain Westbrooke.
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