Assistant Manager Jimmy Bell has been reflecting on Friday night’s 4-1 win over Cheltenham Town and stresses the importance of taking that type of performance into the Boxing Day encounter against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.
“I said before the game that it was about getting the win, but to put in a performance like we did was very good. From start to finish we created lots of chances and we were solid at the back – it was everything we wanted and what we should strive to achieve. That’s the type of performance we want to see in the remaining two games of this year and in 2013.”
He continued: “The lads showed a lot of character on Friday night so credit must go to them. They’ve been in for a bit of stick the last few weeks so I’m going to heap praise on them after Friday. They were magnificent and the fans were magnificent, they really got behind us. I’ve said before that we’ve got to inspire [the fans] and the lads certainly did that on Friday, and they responded.”
Rochdale face Burton Albion on Boxing Day, and with the Brewers level on points with Dale in the table, Bell says it is imperative that the players take the same type of performance shown against The Robins into the match at the Pirelli Stadium.
“We’re just outside the play-offs and we dropped out because of a couple of poor performances and a couple of bad defeats where I thought we should have won, so we’ve got to carry it on.
“We’ve got to be on our mettle, we’ve got to be tight at the back and concentrate because if can get a result there, it sets up for a big game against Bradford."