Manager Keith Hill reflects on Dale’s pre-season schedule so far…
His side have played five games - Huddersfield Town, AFC Fylde, Curzon Ashton, Stockport County and Blackburn Rovers, in addition to completing a hard-working and successful week at the T3 training camp in Tenerife.
“It has been a productive training exercise, and that’s all it is. It’s preparation for the main event.
"And the main event isn’t Peterborough. The main event is the 46 games in the Sky Bet League 1 campaign, and that’s what we’re preparing ourselves for. Too often, there’s too much emphasis on the first game of the season, but it’s not just about the first game of the season.
“Our preparation and planning is going well, regardless of results. We’re learning again – we’re learning good habits while trying to get rid of the bad habits, so I’m really pleased with the way pre-season is going.
“The only concern I do have, and what every manager has, is the possibility of injuries. Although we’ve had a few, they don’t seem to have been that significant. Although obviously Marcus Holness got injured, which was very significant from his point of view and from our point of view in terms of recruitment.
“Matty Lund is out for about three or four weeks after that impact injury, while Peter Vincenti should be back on the training pitch on Monday – it’s just a bit of lingering leftovers from an ankle problem.
“It’s important that these players catch up and do the work that we’re actually doing. Hopefully we’ll see Harrison on the pitch this weekend against Wigan. He’s back in training now and it’s important that he catches up quickly to the mental demands of the way that we do things out on the pitch.
“On Tuesday against Blackburn I was very vocal in my organisation but it’s important that organisation and that vocal organisation, if you like, comes from the players themselves.”
And Hill confirmed that trialist Theo Robinson has now left the club.
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.