Manager Keith Hill reflects on Dale’s late defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall…
“What I saw was a great response after what was a very difficult first half to manage, from all types of perspectives,” said Hill.
“With respect to the opening goal, it’s 100-percent a foul on Keith Keane. They go 1-0 up and then there’s the sending off, and you’re looking at a very chaotic first half.
“I was reasonably pleased with the way we started – quite bright but not assertive, and the game has got flipped on its head.
“The first half is a difficult one to digest but from my perspective we’re 1-0 down and we’re still well in the game at that point.”
He continued: “In the second half, I thought we should have won the game with the opportunities that we created, and I was proud of the way that we played and the way that we responded. I can’t ask for a
better response from the players in the second half other than finishing our opportunities, because there were numerous opportunities.
“To lose in the 93rd minute like we did is difficult to take but I’m learning about the players.
"We nearly fudged a really good win and we ended up losing it. After the introduction of Jamie and Nathaniel, and just slightly changing our shape, I think we should have been two goals to the advantage with the way that we played.
“The manner in which we lost happens sometimes, and it’s a great finish from Simon Cox. Could you, should you have done better? Maybe. But if you start over analysing and start getting deep in the root of the tooth then you can definitely get abscesses with respect to the analysing.”
Watch the full interview on Dale PlayerHD.