By Pete Oliver

Parkin has presided over four 1-0 defeats this term

For the only team in the Football League without a goal to their name to have their posts pinched sounds like the punch-line for a joke.

But at Rochdale it is no laughing matter after thieves broke into the storage area at their training ground to make off with the metal goalframes.

"It isn't funny and everyone, including in the media, has taken it seriously.

"It causes major problems having to replace them and waiting for new ones," manager Steve Parkin told BBC Sport.

"Somebody put good money in for them, it's soured things and makes it difficult having them nicked on the back of everything."

Information passed to the club and the police has raised hopes that the posts, bought by Rochdale's Supporters' Trust, will be recovered.

There have also been offers of replacements, while in the meantime the players have trained on the pitch at Spotland.

The goals still refuse to flow, though, and after last Saturday's home defeat by Notts County, Rochdale found themselves without a point or a goal near the foot of League Two.

I remain positive but we have to start winning sooner or later Steve Parkin

Bottom club Bury have at least hit the target three times and it is all a far cry from the start of last season when Dale scored in their first 10 games at a rate of two a game.

Back then, though, Grant Holt and Rickie Lambert were banging them in before Holt earned a January move to Nottingham Forest.

Lambert picked up an injury in the second game of the current campaign.

"With Holty scoring for Nottingham Forest and Lambo injured it is frustrating," Parkin said. "There is no getting away from that fact.

"But up until Saturday I was pleased with the lads' attitude and the way we had played.

"We have had some tough away games at Torquay and Swindon and not the easiest start against Walsall, who are up there.

"But I have been disappointed with not scoring and the first-half performance against Notts County.

"The players looked under pressure to get a result and didn't play with any freedom, which will come from not winning games and not getting any goals."

Parkin is therefore understandably keen to see the goal drought ended and lose the stigma of being the only League team without a goal.

"It's not very nice to have that tag. We don't like it and we are doing everything we can to change it," he said.

Nothing I have seen in the league so far has frightened me to death Steve Parkin

Parkin, who last week missed out on a move for Chester's Michael Branch, is scouring the loan market for fresh blood.

However, finances make it difficult for Dale to compete and Parkin has been further hamstrung by injuries to Lambert, captain Gary Jones and experienced defender Mark Jackson.

Losing three senior players down the spine of his team has left the Rochdale boss down to the bare bones.

But Parkin, two-and-a-half years into his second spell in charge, remains upbeat and determined to break the double-duck against local rivals Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

He added: "We knew it was going to be a difficult season, although I had hoped to get off to a better start. We will keep working hard and plugging away.

"I think it can get better when we get our injured players back and I keep trying to change the squad round a bit.

"Nothing I have seen in the league so far has frightened me to death, but unfortunately we are not winning games.

"I remain positive, but we have to start winning sooner or later or the fans get frustrated, the players do and I do, which is no good.

"Our focus must be on getting a good result at Accrington."