Manager Keith Hill looks ahead to a busy festive period, where Rochdale will play four league games in just nine day followed by an Emirates FA Cup third round tie against Doncaster Rovers on January 6th...
“A lot of work goes into preparing the players to make sure that they’re fit and that their timing is up to speed.
“We do a lot of preparation on the opposition and on what we want to do as well. The games come thick and fast, and it’s a great opportunity for the starting eleven and finishing eleven, which will probably change over the course of the next five games because there’s such a concentration of matches in such a small space of time.
“It’s good, because you can roll into games without really having to train that much. A lot of preparation work goes into the players and you’ve just got to trust them.”
Twelve points are up for grabs during the festive period and Hill is keen to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.
“It’s a significant period of games where we need to pick up points. We need to match certain aspects of our performances with winning points. There is a necessity, not a desperation, to start picking up three points on a regular basis, but we have done that over a period of time, and like I’ve previously said, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t continue with hard work and endeavour.”
Walsall are the visitors to the Crown Oil Arena for the first of the four league games over the festive period and Hill admits that he has long been an admirer of the way they do things at Banks’s Stadium.
“They do things right. They bring the young players through.
“Patience is key to a lot of what has gone on successfully at Walsall, as well as continued patience and perseverance with young players on the same basis that we do. I admire the way that the club is run.
“It will be a competitive fixture, and that’s what we want from our players.
“If we get what we want from our players we’ll be successful over the next 25 games, plus the two cup competitions that we’re in. It could be meandering into a really good season, so let’s not give up on it. We’re looking forward to the fixtures.”
Watch the full interview on iFollow.