Manager Keith Hill gives his thoughts on Tuesday night’s postponement at Sixfields, and looks ahead to Saturday’s league fixture against Dagenham and Redbridge at Spotland, in his latest interview.
Regarding Tuesday’s call-off, he told Dale Player: “It was a great call and something we had legislated for anyway. Their game there at the weekend against Chesterfield shouldn’t have continued – two of Chesterfield’s goals were as a result of the pitch. If there’s standing water on the pitch then it’s not an even playing surface for both sides. It’s also dangerous and I think the game should have been abandoned.
“[Having no fixture midweek] will freshen the players up and it gives them a bit of thinking time, they've not had much of that over the course of the last four to six weeks. We’re looking forward to the remaining 19 games of the season, and while we don’t know what’s going to happen, we’ve got to try and plan for success.
“Everybody’s eager for success, everybody wants success and everybody expects success in a modern day society. We’ll be working extremely hard and honestly to get that success, and we need the supporters to support the players in every situation throughout that 90 minutes plus, in every game from now until the end of the season.”
Dagenham and Redbridge, a team who recorded a 3-1 win over Dale earlier in the season, are the visitors to Spotland this Saturday. It was a score line which didn’t reflect the overall play, and Hill says the game was a freak of nature.
“To have 28 opportunities on the opposition goal and to dominate possession shows you how good they are on the counter attack. They’ve got match winning players in the side, but the game was like the British of weather – it was a freak of nature.
“Let’s not underestimate or over egg what we’re capable of doing. We have to legislate for the capabilities of the opposition and Wayne Burnett has got a very, very good side there. They set up really good, they’re very positive, they’ve got a never say die attitude, they’re honest, and Wayne who I have got respect for as an ex-team mate, sets his team up for three points.”
Hill was also full of praise for the Spotland pitch.
“Our pitch suits us – it’s wide, it’s big, it’s flat, it’s green and it’s dry. The only thing that really affects us in a negative way is the wind, and I don’t think my Groundsman can sort the wind out,” smiled Hill.
“I’m really pleased with the pitch this season. It’s probably the best our pitch has been in my time at the club, including my previous five and a half years as a Manager. The pitch is as important as any player recruitment and it’s important that we maintain that standing because it suits us. I’m really pleased with the hard work that’s going into it and so are the players.”
The full 15 minute interview is on Dale Player.