Manager Keith Hill has been reflecting on last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers, as well as looking ahead to Saturday’s League 1 fixture v Peterborough United at the ABAX Stadium…
“It could have been a 1-0 score-line to us if we had defended properly as a team. Not individually, but collectively as a team and doing things correctly at set-play situations.
“We didn’t and we found ourselves 2-1 down, but we didn’t give up and that’s testament to the players and the character of the squad.
“The game is never over until the final whistle goes. You can argue, you can moan and you can groan about incidents within a game but you can’t switch off at any point until the final whistle is blown.
“You’ve got to play the time until that final whistle goes and we got a good equaliser. It was a great finish from Niall Canavan – it was absolutely superb.
“It just shows what can happen in those moments of fatigue if you keep the ball alive. Campsy won the ball back, Donal delivered a great cross and we got a goal.”
Dale have a rare overnight stay ahead of Saturday’s match at the ABAX Stadium – their first since December.
Rochdale face a Peterborough United side who currently sit 14th in the table after losing their midweek fixture against Fleetwood Town.
Hill has been complimentary about the Posh, though.
“Peterborough are a good side. They’re a young side and they can turn up the best of results. During the week, I know Graham Westley [Peterborough Manager] was really disappointed with their performance and application at Fleetwood.
“At the beginning of the season, I think everyone connected with Peterborough were expecting a promotion push.
“I remember the Chairman talking about not just getting promoted but having the remit to finish champions, and they’re a long way from that at this moment in time.
“But I like the way that they do business, I like the way that they recruit good, young hungry players and turn them into Premier League and Championship stars. They spend a lot of money recruiting these players but they earn a lot of money.”
Dale are still in with a small shout of making the play-offs and Hill says there’s an ambition to get as many points on the board as possible between now and the end of the season.
“There’s always a chance. There’s a fighter’s chance and there’s an ambition as well. We’re going into the Peterborough game wanting to win it. Who knows where we’ll be after the Peterborough game.
“We’ve done a lot of work already to secure our League 1 status. We’ve got to digest and we’ve got to make sure that we realise that we’ve already done a lot of good work this season again.
“If we were to finish the season strongly, then it would finish off a very good season. We want to continue pressing on forwards.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.