Manager Keith Hill has told Dale PlayerHD he’s pleased that his side are through to the second round of the FA Cup, but is concerned with the team’s ever-growing injury and illness list.
Rochdale were without ten first team players for Tuesday night’s match, and Hill says there are three more additions to the list.
“I’m really pleased with the display and I’m pleased we’re through to the next round, but it has taken its toll,” said Hill.
“We’ve got more sickness and diarrhoea – two more players have just informed us that they need to be in quarantine, plus Andy Cannon has done his hamstring, which is a fatigue injury.
“It’s down to the amount of travelling and the games we’re playing. The games are coming thick and fast and we’re running out of players.
“Every game that we play is important and there needs to be more of an understanding and little bit more sympathy.
“These players are giving absolutely every ounce and I feel sorry for them.”
He continued: “We deserved more goals. We wanted a quick game down at Maidstone but when the score line is 1-0 to the opposition, it becomes a really slow game.
“We got the first goal tonight and it became a really quick game and they couldn’t afford to slow it down. I do agree that we should have scored more goals and we should have won more comfortably.
“We dodged a bullet in the first game and you’ve got to give credit to the opposition.
“The pitch suited us tonight and I thought we were very good throughout, and I thought we managed the second half well because we knew that one mistake then they’re back in the tie.
“I was concerned about fatigue with my players but I feel as though they managed the game well.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.