Manager Keith Hill reflects on Saturday’s six-goal thriller...
Rochdale and Charlton Athletic shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw at the Crown Oil Arena.
Hill told Dale PlayerHD: “It was a roller coaster.
“I thought we showed great intent to score goals but we left our defensive brain behind from set-plays.
“But for one mistake in the first half that cost us, I thought we were far superior in the first half. They had one or two counter-attacking opportunities but, for me, that was because we were too anxious to get forward and to score the goals, and we left a few doors open.
“I can’t legislate for the mistakes that we’ve made, and hopefully they’ve all come in one game. It was a highly entertaining game, but a frustrating one as well, especially after taking the lead.
“We looked so vulnerable from set-plays and it’s down to the individual. We practice, we go through detail about who is marking who, and that’s second phase, it’s not just first phase.
“We made mistakes that have contributed to us losing the game. But I must say that we played against an excellent side today. You’ve got to stand and applaud the run in the second half from Stephy Mavididi. It was an excellent piece of skill and it nearly resulted in a goal, but our ‘keeper saved us, so looking at it from Karl [Robinson’s] point of view, he’ll also feel unlucky.
“I know that we can score goals with the players that we’ve got, the spontaneous skill that they have, but there has to be more brain responsibility to make sure that we don’t concede the type of goals that we have done today.”
The match was the first to be played on the newly laid pitch and Hill was pleased with the way it played.
"I think it has played brilliantly today. I hope that it’ll serve the team and the football club for the short term and the long term future, because it’s really important.
"We’re trying to showcase the way that we play and the way that we do things as a football club. We're bringing young players through to play a certain way, and if we don’t have the pitch to do that, then we’ve got no chance."
Watch the full interview on Dale PlayerHD.