Manager Keith Hill spoke to Dale Player following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Chesterfield.
All three goals came from penalties, while Dale lost three key players to injury.
"There’s no way I can sum that up with the players after the match," said Hill. "Peter Vincenti was taken ill – he was starting the game and it was, I suppose, one accident after another.
“It’s very difficult to dissect the game – there’s no point in doing so sometimes because you can hurt what is already, at this moment, a very, very fragile dressing room. We have to take it and we have to move onto the next game.
“We’re only two games into the season and we have to make sure that we nurture the young players and make sure we don’t become negative with the players. The players have got to remain optimistic and positive.
“We played against an excellent side today - I thought Chesterfield were excellent. They were probably value for money for the win without the penalties. I like the way that they play, the players that they’ve got and I feel as though they’re compatible with League One.”
Josh Lillis, Matty Lund and Scott Tanser were all forced off during the game due to injury and join Olly Lancashire on the growing injury list.
“Maybe that’s the demands of League One,” said Hill. “We’ve got Oliver Lancashire, obviously Josh Lillis, Scott Tanser and Matty Lund all injured. And it’s not just injuries - Tom Kennedy, Stephen Dawson and Calvin Andrew have played a full 90 minutes there. I did have the intention of bringing two of those players off because I don’t want to put them into a position where they’re going to get injured.
“It gives me a headache because it’s not the result I’m concerned about, it’s the next game and the game after that without these players that I need out on the training pitch and on the football pitch.”
The full interview is on Dale Player.