Defender Jim McNulty has spoken to Dale PlayerHD ahead of the Boxing Day clash against Crewe Alexandra at Spotland.
Rochdale head into the game on the back of the weekend’s 3-1 win over Colchester United and McNulty admits that it was pleasing to start the festive period with three points.
“It was good to start the festive period with a win and it gives us a rather more enjoyable week. I’ll enjoy my Christmas dinner a little bit more knowing that the last game I played in ended in three points.
“It can be difficult playing against sides like Colchester. They had just lost six on the bounce and you don’t want to be the team they get the recovery against. You don’t want us to be the team that allow them to turn their fortunes around.”
Crewe Alex head to Spotland currently sitting second bottom of the table on goal difference, but McNulty is wary of Saturday’s opponents.
“I always find, with Christmas being Christmas, it lifts everyone’s spirits and gives everyone renewed hope no matter what form you’re in.
“I’ve been in teams that are really struggling up until the Christmas period and then we’ve had those quick two games and we’ve won both of them. I know that might be an odd thing to say but Christmas lifts people’s spirits and it lifts people’s hopes of winning football matches as well, no matter what has gone on so far, so it’s going to be a difficult game.
“It’s equally as hard playing the top team as it is the bottom team when it comes to this period of the season.”
The weekend’s fixture marks the half-way point in the season and Rochdale are on track to equal or surpass the number of points accumulated after the same number of games played last season.
“It was something that the Gaffer mentioned in the changing room after Saturday’s game. It has been an up and down season up until this point but we’re still on track and not far off the points tally last season so it's an incentive.
“I think if we are to achieve that then we’ve done very well considering the players that the team have lost from last year. It’s definitely an incentive and it’s something we’ll strive to do.”
And McNulty has some wise words as he puts Dale’s season so far into perspective.
“Sometimes you get a little bit mixed up and you can get so lost in current form, the last three games or Saturday’s performance. Your last memory or the last game can cloud your judgement on how the season has actually gone. We’ve reached 30 points before the half way point in the season, which I think is brilliant, and we can match what was done previously.
“It’s difficult not to get lost in the now but if you look it at overall we’ve done fairly well.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.