Manager Keith Hill gives his assessment of Dale’s 2-1 win over Peterborough United at the ABAX Stadium…
All three goals came in the first half, with Joe Bunney and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the score-sheet for Rochdale.
Hill commented: “Peterborough are very good at home. We got the two goal advantage but I think there were more goals for us in the first half.
“They matched us up and then Peterborough, because they’re so good individually, went a little bit maverick and it causes you a lot of problems.
"I’ve been here before and I remember coming with Barnsley and being two or three goals to the advantage. They pulled it back to 3-3 but we won 4-3. They give you opportunities on 1v1s and that’s what we were looking for in the first half.
“It worked superbly well, and like I said, we probably should have had more goals. Their goal was a good goal but it coincided with us probably giving the ball away a bit too much.
“I thought we defended absolutely superbly in the second half. You can’t get involved in the drama of a losing side and the tactics that they choose. We didn’t get involved and I thought we were excellent today.
"I’m really, really pleased that we’ve come away with three points.”
Bunney, whose work-rate all over the pitch was excellent, was back in the starting line-up for the game - his first start since Dale’s League 1 fixture v Sheffield United at the end of February.
Hill believes the match was right type of game for the young forward.
“Today was perfect for Joe Bunney. He should have got more goals than his one goal but it was a great one and he was instrumental in the second goal.
“We know Joe, he comes in waves. We can see when he’s lacking in energy and when he isn’t, and today and in during the week we could spot that he was ready for this game and the way that we needed to play
against Peterborough.
“You have to be very forgiving of yourself against Peterborough because they’re very good in possession. You have to work exceptionally hard like we have done today, so everyone is really pleased in that changing room, as you would imagine.”
And Hill confirmed that Niall Canavan missed the match after picking up a “small” injury in training on Friday.
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.