Jim Gannon rang the changes as County looked to get their promotion push back on track against Rochdale.
Tony Dinning, as expected, came in to replace Dominic Blizzard who joined M K Dons on Thursday.
Liam Dickinson was chosen to partner Anthony Elding up front with Anthony Pilkington given the nod over David Poole down the right.
The big shock, though, was the inclusion of Tommy Rowe who was handed his full County debut in place of Adam Griffin who dropped to the bench.
Joe Lewis, the goalkeeper signed on loan from Norwich on transfer deadline day replaced James Spencer on the bench.
Despite a good start it was Rochdale that go their noses in front when former County player, Glenn Murray broke away from a County attack and coolly slotted past a helpless Wayne Hennessey from inside the area.
Rochdale were further ahead when Alan Goodall headed home from a corner to send the home fans into stunned silence.
It nearly got worse for County when Nathan Stanton tried to emulate Ashley Williams wonder strike against them earlier in the season. It took Wayne Hennessey to be on the top of his game.
The nightmare got even worse when Rochdale were awarded a penalty on the 15th minute that Glenn Murray dispatched. It had looked as if Hennessey got a hand to the ball but it wasn't to be.
Liam Dickinson flicked header from a Michael Rose throw was to be the only highlight in a drab opening 15.
It was turning into a nightmare and County found themselves 4-0 down after just 18 minutes when Ben Muirhead smashed the ball home from a Glenn Murray cross.
County got themselves a lifeline when Anthony Elding volleyed the ball home from the edge of the area.
Moments later The Hatters were right back init when Anthony Elding won the ball on the edge of the area, he calmly slotted the ball past Gilks for Dickinson to coolly slot home. Game on!
Second Half
Just as County thought they had found a way back into this one, Ben Muirhead banged in a fifth with a powerful volley just seconds after the restart.
Rochdale hit a sixth when Glenn Murray headed home from a corner kick, to send the home fans into a stunned silence.
It was seventh heaven for the visitors when Steve Turnbull smashed the ball home from a few yards out to pile on County's misery.
County tried in vein to get another goal back to save their blushes, but this was very much Rochdales day.
The defence, so reliable over the past few months looked out of sorts and they badly missed Blizzard in the centre of the park.
County badly need to get their season back on track, starting at Torquay next weekend.
