Returning hero Lee McEvilly, back on loan at his former club, grabbed the 67th minute winner to ensure Stags lost for the ninth time in 10 visits, the other being a draw.

Overall this was a disappointing performance for Stags after their decent displays of late.

• Boss slams second half show

But they did have two good chances to take the lead inside the first 19 minutes which could have changed the script drastically.

However, home keeper Sam Russell saved well from both Rory Boulding and Stephen Dawson.

In the end Dale fully deserved the three points as Stags failed to trouble the home goal in a dreadful last half-hour with visiting keeper Carl Muggleton called upon to make several stops.

Mansfield made one change with John-Baptiste back from a back strain the heart of defence.

Mullins moved back to right back and Bell to centre midfield.

That meant Jon D'Laryea found himself back on the bench and, with twin brother Nathan not even named in the Dale 16, the first ever occasion the brothers have faced each other on a football field was not to be today.

Rochdale named former Stags winger Rundle in their starting XI,, but ex-Mansfield midfielder Doolan could only make their bench.

John Hartson lookalike McEvilly was back on loan at his former club from Accrington and proved a physical handful for Buxton and John-Baptiste.

Buxton knocked him flying with a thunderous header in the opening seconds as the game kicked off in heavy rain.

Then a misplaced header from Jones to Jelleyman saw him slightly overhit his pass and it ran into touch before Micky Boulding could reach it.

On three minutes Rochdale allowed Rory Boulding some room 20 yards from goal and he struck a low shot destined for the bottom left corner which keeper Russell did well to stretch and tip round for a corner.

Bizarrely, we then had a lengthy hold-up after the referee demanded that a deep rut in the pitch be filled in.

Rory Boulding was inches away from getting a decisive touch onto Jelleyman's dangerous cross in front of goal on the restart.

Stags defended a home corner. Soon after a John-Baptiste slip allowed McEvilly to get in a cross which saw Martin just get in ahead of Murray and Rundle finally headed over.

Rochdale's crosses from the left were causing problems and after a couple of scrambles, a Higginbotham volley on target thankfully cannoned into Buxton and out for a corner.

The visitors should have gone ahead on 19 minutes. Bell's superb run through the midfield saw him lay the perfect ball into the path of Dawson who took it on into the box but his first attempted finish was blocked by the keeper and the ball came back out to hit Dawson and roll to safety.

Micky Boulding came back from an offside position to try to hook a Jelleyman header over the keeper but the catch was comfortable in the end. Soon after Bell struck a first time effort just over from the edge of the box.

There was a let-off for Mansfield five minutes from the break as an offside flag went up as McEvilly drilled in a low cross from the left of the box and Buxton slid in to put the ball into his own net.

Soon after a low Higginbotham cross flew across the six yard box with Murray and McEvilly both narrowly failed to turn it home.
On 43 minutes Jones saw his shot take a wicked deflection which brought a good save from Muggleton stretching to his left.

Stags finished the half under pressure with two more home corners but the half ended scoreless.

Rochdale wasted two golden chances to break through within six minutes of the restart.

On 49 minutes Higginbotham drilled in a right wing cross which Muggleton pushed away from goal. Rundle controlled seven yards from goal but lifted his finish over the top with the goal and keeper at his mercy.

Two minutes later Rundle's cross caught the visiting defence out of position and, with Stags calling for offside Murray planted a free header wide of the target when he really should have scored.

A minute later Dawson shot from 20 yards at the other end but once again Russell was there to make the save.

Rochdale were calling for a penalty when Muggleton skidded into Murray as he tried to go round him. But the Dale man was going down before the contact and play was continued.

Home boss Keith Hill made a double swap on 55 minutes as Rundle and Murray made way for Prendergast and LeFondre.

Four minutes later Mansfield responded by swapping Hamshaw for D'Laryea.

Lack of communication between Stags defenders saw a ball that should have been cleared taken on by LeFondre and drilled across the face of goal.

McAliskey joined the Stags attack in place of Rory Boulding on 67 minutes.

But seconds later Mansfield were behind. Stags were trying to defend their 18 yard line where McEvilly powered a in a low shot that took a slight deflection off Buxton which was just enough to beat Muggleton's fingertips and nestle inside keeper's right hand post.

More home pressure saw Buxton again get his body in the way of a McEvilly blast.

McEvilly was given a noisy ovation when he was brought off nine minutes from time to be replaced by Doolan.

Holmes was given the last three minutes in place of Jelleyman and immediately Rochdale broke with LeFondre getting behind Martin and clear only to see Muggleton keep out his low finish with his legs.

Muggleton then had to beat out a Doolan rocket shot from 20 yards as time ran out.

The away goal somehow survived again seconds after Perkins' low ball rolled invitingly to Doolan who tried to place a sidefooted finish which came back off the post and too quickly at LeFondre who couldn't turn it home from close range.

Muggleton was again in the way of Higginbotham's shot after he twisted and turned just inside the area as we entered four minutes of stoppage time.

But Stags simply hadn't done enough in the second half to warrant taking anything home.

ROCHDALE: Russell, Ramsden, Kennedy, Holness, Stanton, Higginbotham, Jones, Perkins, Rundle (Prendergast 55), McEvilly (Doolan 81), Murray (LeFondre 55). Subs not used: Spencer, Crooks.

STAGS: Muggleton, Mullins, Martin, Buxton, John-Baptiste, Hamshaw (D'Laryea 59), Jelleyman (Holmes 87), Bell, Dawson, M. Boulding, R. Boulding (McAliskey 67). Subs not used: White, McIntosh.

REFEREE: Colin Webster of Tyne and Wear