The way the visitors gave up a goal that was completely avoidable due to a mix of poor management and poor decision-making infuriated the Rochdale boss and a few of his players.
Joe Grey’s spectacular goal in the 65th minute put Pools ahead 1-0, setting up a picture-perfect Easter weekend for the hosts. However, Rochdale, who had seen striker Kairo Mitchell sent off in the first half for a strong challenge on Tom Parkes, equalised in the fifth and final minute of added time through former Poolie Devante Rodney.
Despite a late comeback by Rochdale, Pools appeared to have done enough to finish with six points from six over the Easter weekend after Rodney hammered a free kick over the crossbar with 90 seconds left.
But substitute Chay Cooper gave Rochdale the ball back with a flip that was difficult to understand, even for his inexperience, with the ball down in the corner and at the opposite end to where the home team wanted it to be.
That allowed the hosts to launch the ball forward one final time before both Tom Parkes and Luke Waterfall uncharacteristically failed to deal with it, allowing Rodney to steal in, round Pete Jameson and score his fifth goal in nine games.
And the Pools boss was spitting with rage and frustration at his side’s failure to hold onto all three points.
“As strange as it seems, for me, it almost feels worse than the defeat against Gateshead,” he stated.
“We were beaten, outplayed, and overpowered against Gateshead, at the very least.
“That wasn’t the case here today; we ought to have won the football game.
“We could have added a second, which would have ended the game, but at moments it seemed very comfortable.
