Manager Keith Hill has admitted that he’s enjoying Dale’s League One journey, as he reflected on Tuesday night’s 3-2 victory over Swindon Town.
Bastien Hery’s stoppage time winner saw Rochdale become the first side to inflict defeat on the Robins at the County Ground this season.
Hill told Dale Player: “I’m enjoying it and I’m happy – it counts for a lot.
“I have massive burning ambition for myself and for the players to be successful and I was massively disappointed at half time [on Tuesday night] because I thought we had missed our opportunity.
“I listened to their manager after the game and he has suggested that we smashed the ball forward but we didn’t smash it forward, we passed it forward. We passed into areas of vulnerability, where we know Swindon are vulnerable.
“We came up with the perfect game plan and that game was perfect from our perspective to employ it. In the first half I thought we had missed our opportunity because when Swindon get to half time they can change one or two things because the flow of the game has stopped, but in the second half, we responded better in that first 20 minutes than they did and that’s where we gave ourselves the opportunity to win the game.”
Tuesday night’s fixture at the County Ground was the first of two long away trips this week, with Yeovil Town the opponents on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s game at Huish Park, Hill says that recovery this week has been important.
“It’s very important, and for the management as well,” laughed Hill.
“I can’t make a physical impact on that game but I do get an emotional impact and psychologically it’s draining. It’s like I’ve played a match, or maybe two, and Brian Barry-Murphy is witnessing and noticing the difference between playing and coaching. The impact that it can have on your body from a supporter’s perspective is also harsh.
"From a player’s perspective, it's the mental concentration you have to go through, as well as the physical endurance, so recovery is really, really, really important.”
And Hill is expecting a tough fixture against the Glovers, who were in the Championship last season.
“It’ll be difficult, very difficult because they’re a good side and well respected. We’ll have to come up with a game plan and we will do. We’re just looking forward to the fixture.”
The full interview is available on Dale Player.