ROCHDALE 2, BURTON ALBION 0
It was very much a case of the late show as Rochdale claimed a Carabao Cup giantkilling act at home to Burton Albion.
League Two side Rochdale, who last season reached the third round where they played then Premier League side Burnley, snatched victory in the dying minutes with goals from Jimmy Ball and Devante Rodney.
With the prospect of a penalty shootout decider looking increasingly likely, Ball belatedly broke the deadlock in the 86th minute.
The spot kick was awarded when Abraham Odoh cut in from the left and was tripped by Davis Keillor-Dunn.
Then in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Rochdale added a second goal through Rodney who raced from half-way on to a clearance from goalkeeper Devante Rodney to shoot low past Burton goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.
The victory was no more than Rochdale deserved as they had the clearest chances of the night.
And after losing their first two league matches, the win was a confidence builder for Robbie Stockdale’s side as they outplayed the Brewers for much of the night.
“It was a really positive night for us – but it is just the start,” explained Stockdale who was mindful his side had lost its first two league matches.
Stockdale was delighted with the response to Saturday’s loss at Gillingham where he was unhappy with his side’s energy levels.
He said: “The win was thoroughly deserved. From where we started on Saturday, it was chalk and cheese.
“I was angry on Saturday, but always knew it was in us. We have to make sure it is not just a one-off and have to do it again.
“It was a good night, we played well and are in the next round of the cup, but it will be pointless if we don’t do it in the next game against Grimsby.
“We have good players – that is why they are here. We believe we have the quality and physicality to beat anyone in our division and have just beaten a team in the division above.
“When we were criticised on Saturday, it was deserved, but against Burton we deserved praise to a man and even the substitutes.”
But it was another setback for Burton manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink whose side has lost all three league and cup games so far and they were clearly lacking in confidence.
The defeat increased the pressure on Hasselbaink who admitted his side is not in a good place, explaining: “We are in a difficult moment.
“The only way we are going to get out of it is through hard work and keep believing. It is tough to pick ourselves up, but we have to do it as nobody else will do it.”
Hasselbaink added: “We need to be better. It is our own fault as we are giving away goals from our mistakes.
“We are doing things not expected of us, losing balls in silly areas and getting punished for it. We gave chances away from our own set pieces. And in the final third, we want more creativity.”
Rochdale made five changes from the defeat at Gillingham three days earlier as Stockdale handed debuts to Manchester City loanee goalkeeper Cieran Slicker and striker Rayhaan Tulloch who had been borrowed from West Brom.
There were also full debuts for Leicester City loanee Ben Nelson and Tyrese Sinclair, son of former Chelsea player Frank.
Burton also made five changes from Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat by Bristol Rovers.
Former Oldham Athletic striker Keillor-Dunn had the first clear-cut chance forcing a smart stop from Slicker.
Rochdale soon got on top and created a number of scoring opportunities as Sheffield United loanee Femi Seriki, Sinclair and Rodney all had openings.
The pattern of the game continued in the second half with Rochdale in charge.
Rodney broke clear from half-way only to be denied by Sinisalo, the Finnish U21 international loaned from Aston Villa.
Rodney and Sinclair failed to take other openings and you felt it was not going to by Rochdale’s night.
But their luck changed with little over five minutes left when Odoh made a dazzling run as he cut in from the left only to be tripped by Keillor-Dunn as Ball finally made the breakthrough.
Rodney sealed victory in stoppage time with a goal on the break and would have added a third but for a great save from Sinisalo as Burton disintegrated.