Manager Keith Hill spoke to Dale PlayerHD following his side’s League One fixture v Swindon Town at the County Ground.
Two quick fire first half goals earned Swindon Town the three points against ten man Rochdale. Despite a spirited and dominant second half display by Dale at the County Ground, they could only half the deficit.
The Robins opened up a two goal advantage in as many minutes through an excellent strike by Fabien Robert and a deflected effort from Ben Gladwin.
Rochdale, who had been reduced to ten men just twelve minutes into the game, pulled a goal back on the hour mark after Olly Lancashire bundled a Michael Rose corner ball over the line.
“I’m really disappointed with a lot of things today,” said Hill.
“I think every single one of the officials have let both teams down with that standard of refereeing.
“There wasn’t one appeal for John O’Sullivan to be sent off. Not from their dugout, not from their players on the pitch.
“The manner in which they officiated was poor for both sides.
“My lads have given everything. Every ounce of sweat and blood and they have got nothing for it. Absolutely nothing. They have been severely let down today.”
Rochdale were excellent in the second half and Hill is pleased with the endeavour and hard-work shown by the players.
“When we’re down to ten men and we’re playing against such an outstanding side who keep the ball very well, then it’s going to be difficult.
“If we were playing against a different team in the league who give you the ball back more often and you’re looking at percentage football, then it might have been a little bit easier for us.
“But to play against Swindon with the endeavour and intensity that we have done today with ten out field players, it’s testament to the energy and the hard-work that the players have given."
Although the County Ground was unaffected by the recent heavy rainfall seen across other parts of the country, the teams had to contend with swirling gale force winds.
“We didn’t play the elements appropriately when we were down to ten men in that passage of play where we conceded two goals. We should have been a bit more patient, we should have a little bit more thoughtful – you cannot give the ball away to Swindon at any time because every opportunity they get when they’ve got possession is an attacking opportunity.
“When we’re trying to score they’re even more dangerous, but I felt in the second half we needed minimum opportunities to maximise points but we just didn’t get the goal that I thought we would get. We rode our luck a little bit, with respect to keeping a second half clean sheet.
“I just wanted three of four opportunities. I knew weren’t going to get too much possession. We probably got the opportunities that I thought we would do and we should do better with at least one of those opportunities.
“It’s the way it goes sometimes. For all your hard-work and endeavour you get nothing but you’ll get something somewhere along the line as long as you continue to work as hard as we have done today.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.