Manager Keith Hill spoke to Dale PlayerHD after his side’s magnificent 4-1 win over Southend United at Spotland.
Rochdale came from behind to comfortably secure three points after a dominant second half display.
The visitors took the lead shortly before the half hour mark through Jack Payne, but Grant Holt was on target for Dale before the interval to ensure the teams went into the break on level terms.
A rampant Rochdale emerged for the second half, dominating the match and scoring a further three. Joe Raffery sent Keith Hill’s side in front four minutes after the re-start, before Jamie Allen lashed a wonderful long range effort beyond Dan Bentley shortly after the hour. Substitute Joe Bunney rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.
“I would say the second half was total dominance. It was a superb second half performance," said Hill.
“I wouldn’t have minded today if it had been a narrow 2-1 victory with a scruffy second goal and a bad performance because the first half showed me that was potentially going to happen. But for the players to respond to the advice that we gave at half time in the manner that they did was absolutely superb. It was a tremendous second half.
“We spoke about opportunities and how hard we worked last week and there was no point in wasting last week’s work by just going through the motions today. I think the players picked up the second half performance magnificently and we’ve put a very good side to bed very comfortably.”
The wins moves Dale up to eighth in the table, just two points off the play-off places, but Hill remains focused on the bigger picture.
“I’ve always said judge us after 46 games but there’s always mini psychological hurdles that you have to bounce over in your stride if you can. Our season is always alive and it is for every team. No matter what the state of play is there’s a responsibility to the league for fair play and doing the right thing on the pitch. We do it every day and we’re trying to improve our opportunities.
“We’ve achieved our first target which is League 1 stability this season but what I’ve witnessed this last couple of weeks is a real enthusiasm from the players, a determination and real fight in the way that they’re playing.
“We’re scoring a lot of goals and we’re looking quite comfortable defensively. It’s a recipe for success and we’ve had success probably over the last month and a half. I won’t be disappointed no matter what happens because what the players have done to turn the season around in such a short space of time has been magnificent.
“It’ll only allow the players to grow psychologically in preparation for next season no matter what happens in the remain eight games that we’ve got.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.