Hill: We’re going to be highly competitive - it's a game we want to win...
Rochdale are in action against Oldham Athletic on Saturday, Dale’s second derby match in eight days following last weekend’s win over Bury at Spotland.
Keith Hill’s side head to Sportsdirect.com Park to face a Latics side buoyed by their midweek win over relegation rivals Blackpool.
Hill is expecting a tough match against Oldham, but says Dale are going there looking to record a victory.
“With Shez [Oldham Manager John Sheridan], you’re going to get a determined opposition and an organised opposition.
“He knows what to do when he’s taking over clubs who are in trouble. He goes in and doesn’t panic. He works to a method of gradually getting results and they’ve got the results to get them in a position where they’ve got a game in hand and they can actually get themselves out of the drop zone.
“It looked a nigh on impossible target for them when he first took over, but I spoke with John that week he took over and we had a little bit of jest, and I could tell in his voice that he was positive about the possibility of retaining their League 1 status.
“They’ve done a magnificent job in the last 10 or 12 games since he’s been at the football club, so they’re in a good position with the game in hand that they’ve got.
“But this weekend, we’re going to be highly competitive and it’s a game that we do want to win.”
Rochdale head into the match on the back of a positive run of form, having lost just one of their last seven games. Hill is looking for the same type of positive performance from his players on Saturday.
“We want intelligent football players and we want intelligent energy.
“Yes, you want to wear your heart on your sleeve, but you want your heart to be in control of your emotions. That’s what you’ve got to be. Last week we had great composure and great control in our performance and we ended up with having a great result.”
Hill confirmed that Grant Holt has trained most of this week after recovering from the back problem which kept him side-lined last weekend, while Scott Tanser, who has been on the long term injury list with a
lower leg problem, featured in a closed doors game with Burnley on Tuesday.
The full 23 minute interview is on Dale PlayerHD.