Manager Keith Hill reflects on Dale's 4-1 pre-season friendly win over Wigan Athletic at Spotland...
“We’re just trying to create good habits and a standard, and improve on those standards and habits,” he told Dale PlayerHD.
“It’s pre-season, it’s preparation and another training exercise.
“And as long as I see the type of habits that I want for the season, then I’m happy regardless of the result.
“I’m relatively pleased with where we’re at in formulating those types of habits, but we haven’t kicked a ball in anger yet.”
Summer signing Harrison McGahey was in action for Dale for the first time after recovering from the foot problem which has kept him side-lined since the start of pre-season.
He managed to complete the full 90 minutes, which is pleasing for Hill.
“It’s exceptional that he’s got 90 minutes under his belt - it’s what we wanted today. He used his brain in the second half especially, and that’s what you want from your central defenders.
“They’re the brains of the outfit, if you like, and it’s important that they’re switched on. I thought he was really switched on mentally today and sometimes you get your best performances, especially mental ones, out of physical fatigue.
"Harrison managed that fatigue particularly well in the second half so he probably won’t be involved on Tuesday against Macclesfield. We’ve got to make sure we give him that added rest because that was his first game and we’ll see where we’re at later on in the week with regards to his training.”
Oliver Rathbone also made his first appearance for the side, getting around half an hour under his belt.
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.