Despite leaving the capital with a draw, Rochdale manager Steve Parkin believes it was a clear case of two points dropped at Underhill after Barnet's late winner. Parkin questioned the validity of Barnet's late strike following what he felt was an unfair challenge on his stopper by three opposition players, leaving Grazioli to snatch the leveller.

It wasn't the only thing that displeased the Dale boss after a couple of decent claims for a penalty with Barnet's Anthony Charles constantly trying to get his hands on a nice blue Nike shirt, despite Gareth Griffiths still needing it for the rest of the game.

Rochdale lined up as expected with Tommy Jaszczun coming in for flu victim Alan Goodall and true to his word Steve Parkin's side went to Underhill with defending firmly on the back burner lining up with a 4-3-3 formation.

Rochdale started brightly in a tight opening spell and with just seven minutes played the first effort on Barnet's goal arrived via the boot of Scott Warner. Following a half-cleared Jamie Clarke freekick, Warner tried his luck from the edge of the box with low drive that was well saved by Ross Flitney down to his right.

Barnet looked dangerous going forward as they used both flanks very effectively. Nicky Bailey went close for the Bee's on 11 minutes after a powerful run down the left by Lee. Bailey firmly steered the ball goal wards after receiving the ball for his colleague, but it was saved by Gilks at the second attempt.

Blair Sturrock was handed a chance a minute later after a good advantage played by the referee following a foul on Rickie Lambert. Holt held up the ball well and slotted Sturrock in, but the Scotsman was never going to chip a 6'3" 'keeper from that range, despite trying.

The home side were beginning to find their feet against a nervous looking Dale defence though confident 'keeping by Gilks quelled the danger on a couple of occasions with his willingness to come off his line and take command.

However with 17 minutes played Barnet could have beaten the Dale 'keeper following their best chance to open the scoring. The chance arrived after another good run down the left by Bailey found Ben Strevens who slid in, but could only prod the ball wide of the target.

The game was beginning to open up a little more and with 24 minutes on the clock a foul on Neil Brisco led to a freekick sited on the 'Rickie Lambert have-a-crack map'. Lambert prepared himself and from 25-yards, bent a freekick around the wall but after beating the 'keeper the Dale striker's effort crashed off the bar.

Just before the half hour mark Neil Brisco left the field holding the shoulder that had caused him a problem earlier in the week and Gary Brown replaced him.

It was long before Rochdale registered the first goal on 36 minutes. A corner won through the endeavours of Brown was swung over by Lambert and Holt met the ball unopposed with a powerful header.

Despite the setback, Barnet responded well and playing down the hill and put Dale under great pressure, especially down the right through the dangerous Soares. His crosses always carried a threat, but despite Barnet's best efforts of converting those chances, Dale held firm until the break.

The second half took a little time to warm up and it was the home side who managed the first effort on goal, though left back Batt failed to match an excellent run with the finish and fired high over the bar.

Barnet continued to enjoy the better of the play, though sloppy passing was proving their undoing and Parkin's players need to that next gear.

With an hour played Dale found the gear stick and used it, pushing the Bee's back and carving out chances. Steve Parkin's side had strong claims for a couple of penalties, but the referee Mr Stroud failed to see anything wrong with Anthony Charles' handful of blue shirt as impeded to run of Gareth Griffiths, something he did throughout the game.

The visitors enjoyed their own decent spell and with 68 minutes played pocket rocket Brown latched onto a Holt nod down from a Lambert corner. The diminutive Dale man drove a low shot in from 18-yards, but his effort was deflected wide.

Strevens livened up the Bees supporters with 74 minutes played with an attempted overhead kick as Barnet began to get to work once more. Minutes later Dean Sinclair squandered a great chance. Good work down the left after Clarke was caught in possession and the ball pulled back to Sinclair who blasted his effort well wide.

Blair Sturrock had a great chance to wrap up the points after a Lambert flick on, but after sneaking in behind the defenders, Sturrock's attempted flick over the advancing 'keeper was wide of the target.

The Bee's ended the game the strongest and got the goal they deserved with four minutes to go after Tony Gallimore conceded a corner. Gilks came out to claim the ball, but under pressure from three Barnet players, he spilled the ball allowing Barnet striker Grazioli to fire home.

Before the game ended Dale skipper Grant Holt sadly picked up his fifth yellow card of the season after kicking the ball away and will now face a one-match ban.