Manager Keith Hill gives his assessment of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers…
Callum Camps had put Dale ahead just before the break with a sublime touch and finish, but goals from Mitchell Lund and Andy Butler put the home side ahead in the second half.
It looked as though the visitors would end their long winless run, but Canavan popped up in the dying seconds to rescue a point for Keith Hill’s side.
Reflecting on the game, Hill told Dale PlayerHD: “I thought we started superbly and brightly but lost our way a little bit. There was certainly a lack of energy and I think that was because of the exploits of the week and the energy that we exerted at Wigan. One or two of the lads said they felt a little bit jaded.
“At the end of the day, we were staring down the barrel of losing the game 2-1. Both goals are in excusable – they’re soft.
“We haven’t been at our best today but we’ve picked up a priceless point, as far as I’m concerned. If you’re not going to win the game then don’t lose it. We were looking very close to losing it.”
He continued: “The tactics that the opposition used can de-energise you. They sit and pick and they’re allowed to do it away from home. This game for them was their ideal game. We were expected to win, we were expected to come out of the traps and really get at them. That leaves holes all over the pitch so there’s me as a manager looking at it and there’s Darren Ferguson looking at it thinking it’s an ideal opponent and we’ll play on the counter-attack.
“I think they did it to good effect after a certain amount of time. First half, with the one that hit the post, I thought we looked dangerous at set-plays. But we didn’t come out with a bounce in the second half. Josh [Lillis] saves us twice in the first half, but fair play to Doncaster, I think their tactics worked superbly, but we’ve got manage that better.
“I’m pleased that we’ve come up with the equaliser in the 95th minute but I feel a little bit sorry for Darren and his team. They’ve got a good squad there, they’re probably down on confidence a little bit and after today’s result they’ll probably be lower than a snake’s belly. I’m sure Darren will bring them round but he must be sick as a pig.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.