Manager Keith Hill has been reflecting on Tuesday night’s win over Walsall, as well as looking ahead to Saturday’s encounter against Coventry City, in his latest Dale Player interview…
Hill told Dale Player: “I think Tuesday night was the most complete result, but one of the most complete performances was the Sheffield United game. That’s from a tactical point of view, the way that we set up and the way that we retained the ball, but the result the other night was special because it was our first home win.
“And for me we’ve got to base camp – the first 10 points of the season. That was very important.”
Hill continued: “We’ve got to keep nudging and we’ve got to keep accumulating points. It’s going to be a difficult season and it’ll remain a difficult season regardless of who we play or the results that we get.
“But I’m really pleased and I think the players are especially pleased as well because of the endeavour and the work that they put in. A lot of it is unseen work that we do on the training pitch and what started in pre-season – now it’s all evolving.
“Sometimes you’ve got to re-adjust your sights and we have done. Ourselves as staff and the players seem to be learning quite quickly. The players are keen to express themselves, so I’m really pleased, as I have been throughout the majority of the season.
“There has only one performance that I’ve been disappointed with so I’m pleased. I’m quietly excited by the prospects of the remainder of the season, but I’m also trying to look into the future and when I look into the future I’m thinking wow, we could be really good.”
Steven Pressley’s Coventry City side are the visitors to Spotland on Saturday and Hill is expecting a big test.
“They’re another big fish of the league, an ex-Premier League team and they’re back at the Richo Arena, which is great for them. I’ve got great respect for the management team and I know one or two of the players - Frank Nouble and Jim O’Brien - from my time at Barnsley.
“They’re a very good side and it’s going to be a competitive, difficult game.”
The full interview with Keith is available to view on Dale Player.