Rochdale 3 Exeter City 2.
Saturday 14 April 2012.

Ref: Andy Madley

Att: 1930, with 209 Exeter fans.

BBC Match Report –

Rochdale staged a stunning fightback to beat fellow strugglers Exeter and keep alive their slim hopes of avoiding relegation from League One.

Nicky Adams gave Dale hope when his deflected shot flew in.

Joe Thompson lobbed Artur Krysiak to level before Jason Kennedy stroked the ball under the keeper for the winner.

Having looked comfortable, the Grecians were left stunned by Dale's dramatic comeback, which leaves both sides deep in the relegation mire.

Rochdale's victory staved off the drop for another week, but it leaves both clubs Exeter eight points from safety, needing to win all three of their remaining games to stand a chance of beating the drop.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Rochdale manager John Coleman told BBC Radio Manchester:

"We shouldn't be putting ourselves in those situations.

"I knew we had the character to try and come back because we've done it before.

"Thankfully we didn't blow it once we got our noses in front.

"But we've got to be better at home and we shouldn't be giving ourselves a mountain to climb."

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:

"The way we lost our game in the last 10 minutes, we've seen it before.

"I'm very disappointed because the performance for 80 minutes was brilliant, but it's about the scoreline and we lost 3-2.

"The period after their first goal let us down. I can't change today's result.

"I can only try to win the next game and that's what I'll be trying to do."