Manager Keith Hill has praised the response of his players, after Dale came from behind to secure their place in the second round of the EFL Cup with a 3-1 win over Chesterfield.
The Spireites’ Paul McGinn opened the scoring in the first half with a wonder strike, but second half goals from Ian Henderson, Andy Cannon and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing ensured victory for Rochdale.
Hill told Dale PlayerHD: “We’ve got spirit, we’ve got quality and we’ve got endeavour.
“There was quality there in the first half as well but the game was a little bit flat. But, for me, we still had golden opportunities in the first half, in the same way we had them against Peterborough on Saturday.
“And the response was really good, particularly in the second half. Our goals were three good goals and we probably could have had more.”
Andy Cannon, who scored his first professional goal at the weekend, was on the score-sheet again, as he netted Dale’s second of the evening.
“He’s a good player,” said Hill.
“I’ve got to try and make the most with the pool of players that I’ve got by making sure we try to teach and educate, and create multi-positional players. I think Andy is assuming the role very well, as are a lot of the other football players.
“The only real set positions are the central defenders and the goalkeeper. Everywhere else, for me, I think you’ve got to be flexible when you’ve got a small squad at a club who has small resources.”
He continued: “What we use at Rochdale Football Club is a spirit – a kindred link between the supporters and the football players. It’s important that we continue to use that as part of our armoury because if we
don’t, then we’ll become the old ‘are you Stockport in disguise’. It’s only because of the players, the management and everybody pulling in the right direction within our resources that we’re being successful in League 1.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.