Manager Keith Hill has been reflecting on last weekend’s win over Coventry City, as well as looking ahead to Saturday’s match against Leyton Orient, in his latest Dale Player interview...
“It ended up being like a cup match,” said Hill as he reflected on the game against the Sky Blues.
“I thought we had other opportunities, especially in the second half. Once we took the one goal lead, everyone suggests that the onus is on the opposition to start attacking, but I don’t think we stopped attacking.
“They had a disallowed goal but I do believe we had really good opportunities. People have forgotten about Jack O’Connell hitting the inside of the post and Joe Bunney had a couple of wriggles where he could have scored.
“I do believe we created more chances in the second half. I believe it became a lot more comfortable for us, but there was also the opportunity for the opposition to sneak a goal. But listen, we got the result. The result is really important, but the results are now leading off the back of what are very good performances. I’m still reasonably happy with all the performances that we have had thus far.”
Saturday’s game against Leyton Orient will see Hill go up against Kevin Nugent, who is in caretaker charge of the O’s following Russell Slade’s departure.
Hill and Nugent were team mates at Plymouth Arygle from 1992 through until 1995, and Hill admits that they’re good friends.
“I’m going to be up against one of my best friends in football – Kevin Nugent. You don’t get too many friends in football, so it’ll be a privilege to be competitive against Kevin Nugent as an opposing Manager because were team mates.
“We also played against each other. I remember Kev playing for Cardiff and I was playing for either Plymouth or Rochdale and within the first four minutes he’s laid an elbow right across my nose - that’s how competitive he is. He’s a superb person and I think he’ll do a great job for Leyton Orient.”
The full interview is available to watch on Dale Player.