Hull City secured a big three points and a first win in five home games after a comfortable 2-0 win at the KCOM Stadium.
Grant McCann made one change to the Hull City starting XI from their 3-0 Victory at Plough Lane, Gavin Whyte returned to the City set up with Josh Magennis absent through injury.
The early stages of the game proved steady, as City and their visitors looked to settle into the game. With the opening 15 minutes proving a little arduous, a hint of frustration began to linger as Rochdale looked to make full use of a stern defensive show, a potential long night was ahead.
The first opportunity of the night came in the twenty second minute, when Keane Lewis-Potter recieved the ball from Greg Docherty before charging at the Rochdale defence, cutting onto his right and curling a fine effort toward the far right corner, but Gavin Bazunu was equal to the effort, claiming the ball.
Any sign of the game stagnating were soon put to bed when two minute's later the deadlock was broken, Mallik Wilks fired the opening goal of the game inside the near post after cutting in from the right wing, a fine effort.
City were back in action minutes later. Keane Lewis-Potter again beat his man down the left hand side and looked for Whyte in the centre, protests were promptly waved away as the Tiger's winger went to ground and the Rochdale defence cleared the danger.
City's scottish sniper, Greg Docherty, found himself in the action come the thirty first minute, winning City a free kick in a promising area. Callum Elder swung in the resulting kick to the back post, finding Jacob Greaves who was denied by Gavin Bazunu, but the flag was up anyhow.
Remnants of games gone by began to show five minutes later as City pressed on, producing some silky football. Mallik Wilks with a sumptuous backheel into the path of an onrushing Lewie Coyle, who subsequently won a corner. Elder swung it in from the right, yet the visitors held strong.
The remaining moments of the first half were mananged well by the host's, taking us into half time with a slender 1-0 lead.
HT: City 1-0 Rochdale
The game resumed and the opening moments of the second half offered little in way of action. The first opportunity falling in the 56th minute, when Callum Elder took a short corner to George Honeyman and after a melee in the box, Rochdale cleared.
City's defensive duties were called into action three minutes later, Lewie Coyle getting in the way of a vicious strike. The ball subsequently fell to Mallik Wilks who then won City a free kick.
Sixty four minutes in, the fluent City football continued when George Honeyman played a lovely ball through to Callum Elder who looked to chip the keeper only for it to go behind for another City corner. Lewie Coyle eyed up a Fleetwood-esque effort from the resulting corner, but this one fell wide.
The first substitution for City came in the 67th minute when Gavin Whyte made way for Tom Eaves. Subsequently Eavesey was straight into action two minutes later, when City found themselves 2 nil up courtesy of an own goal from Gabriel Osho, whom fumbled the ball into his own net under pressure from Eaves.
City's next chance came in the 74th minute, Keane Lewis-Potter played a teasing ball for Tom Eaves and Mallik Wilks to chase, yet the opportunity somehow evaded both.
Rochdale were reduced to ten men shortly after in the the 78th minute. Connor Shaughnessy seeing red for the visitor's.
City's second and third substitution came in the 82nd minute, Alfie Jones and Keane Lewis-Potter made way for Regan Slater and James Scott. A fourth then came four minutes later with Dan Crowley coming on for Greg Docherty.
City had a big chance to make it three in the 89th minute, when Mallik Wilks was denied by a great save from Gavin Bazunu and Tom Eaves in somewhat typical fashion fired the rebound over the bar from a tight angle.
FT: City 2-0 Rochdale
A comfortable win in the end for City sees them return to second place ahead of 3rd placed Lincoln City, who lost 2-1 at home to Fleetwood Town. Peterbrough United remain three points clear at the top despite drawing 0-0 away to Oxford United.