Manager Keith Hill spoke to Dale PlayerHD following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium…
“You could say I’m disappointed [only to take a point] but I’m also encouraged by the respect the opposition gave us. They were in our face and they pressed us for as long as they possibly could in the first half.
“For me, they [Fleetwood] tried to make it an ugly game in the first half. We rose to the challenge, we played through that and I was very encouraged by what we were doing towards the end of the first half.
“In the second half, I thought we fully deserved to get the first goal. Then again, the opposition put their substitutes on and go direct. That’s typical of the English game - it’s virtually unseen across the rest of Europe - and it can change a game, there’s no question about that.
“I thought we had done more than enough to be winning 1-0. We conceded from a set play, which we are going to do throughout the course of the season.
“When we’re at 1-0, I think we’ve created enough opportunities to get the second goal and put the game to bed, but we didn’t. They were encouraged by one or two opportunities they got when Jamille Matt and Bobby Grant came on.
“I’m really encouraged by what we’re trying to achieve and I’m not too disappointed because we haven’t had too much when we’ve come up here in the past and they’ve been free scoring of late. I think we coped and it’s another string in the bow to what we’re trying to achieve.”
Ian Henderson had a stoppage time penalty saved by Chris Maxwell and Hill believes it was a good save by the goalkeeper.
“I’d say that it was a good save.
“There’s a bravery to Hendo and when he picks the ball up, I’m not going to stand on the touchline and argue and debate.
“He’s a penalty taker – he’s missed one today and scored one against Coventry City.”
The full interview is available to view on Dale PlayerHD.