Manager Keith Hill spoke to Dale Player following Saturday’s 4-1 win over Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium…
“I’m happy with the result and I’m happy with the majority of the performance, but I think at times there’s too much pressure heaped on us – there was an expectancy for us to come here and win.
“We want to come here and win, but arguably I don’t think the Football Club at this moment in time is in League One. We’re not a League One Football Club whereas Colchester are. They’ve been in this division for eight, maybe nine seasons, so they’re established.
“But I’m really pleased with the players and the way that performed. I think this result and performance today reflects what we’re capable of doing as a squad, as a football club and as a team, and I’m really
pleased.”
Saturday saw Dale’s forward trio of Peter Vincenti, Ian Henderson and Matty Done take the to pitch together for the first time since October, and they caused all manner of problems for the U’s. And while Hill was pleased to have them all back in action, he was also full of praise for the team as a whole.
“Arguably they’re our best three up front, but I’ve got a brilliant dilemma, or a conundrum, with respect to the midfield players, and today I’ve decided to play with three central defenders. The players are really good to work with, they’re flexible and they’re knowledgeable, and if you look at the squad that I selected today there are players in there who would walk into a lot of league one teams up and down the country.
"We’ve got good players when Hendo, Doney, Peter Vincenti, Lundy and Dawson are at their best, as well as the back three, and Rosey and Joe Raff. Joe has come in from nowhere today and he’s been excellent. Conrad Logan makes good saves and goalkeepers win you games. For the majority of the time he’s not got a lot to do but when he has to do something he can save you a game, like he did in the FA Cup last weekend.”
Dale welcome Aldershot Town to Spotland on Tuesday evening for a FA Cup second round replay, and Hill is expecting another difficult fixture.
“We take every opposition seriously and we’ll treat Aldershot with the same respect that we treat every League One side and we did do last time.
“It was just unfortunate [last time] that our planning was disrupted. The team that we put out didn’t have an awful lot of energy due to the illness that was going around, but we seem to be getting our energy back.
“And it’s like any team - if any team can field their best 14 players from their squad then you’ve got a great chance of getting something out of a game. Squad’s like ours and Colchester's get tested severely when there are injuries, suspensions and lack of form , and unfortunately we don’t have the resources of the Manchester United’s, Chelsea’s, and Manchester City’s of this world.”
The full interview is available to view on Dale Player.