Manager Keith Hill reflects on Rochdale’s stoppage time defeat to Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park…
Ian Henderson headed home Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cross towards the end of the first half, before Paddy Madden’s header levelled matters nine minutes after the break.
Dale had chances to retake the lead and take all three points, but it was Matty Crooks’ thunderous strike in the third minute of stoppage time which sealed the victory for the Iron.
Hill told Dale PlayerHD: “I don’t believe in luck, per se, but we’re going through some bad luck.
“I thought the performance merited a victory, never mind a draw, so I’m trying to make sense of what’s happened tonight after coming away with a loss.
“I thought we were excellent but the players are dejected at the minute because they know they played well tonight.
“You could argue it was a superb strike, but I do believe the opposition rode their luck a little bit. We were the better side in every department.”
He continued: “It’s one of those games where I don’t think we can do much more. I’m pretty pleased with the players’ performance, their attitude and their application, and it gives me great encouragement, like I’ve been saying for quite a while now.
“We’ve got players who are coming back to fitness – Niall Canavan played 90 minutes tonight, and again he’s only had one training day, so well done to him.
“We had a balanced side tonight – one or two players were playing with fatigue but they’ve got through it, which is good to know. We might have picked up an injury to Joe Rafferty, though.
“We had quite a young bench, excluding Peter Vincenti, but on Saturday we will probably have Matty Lund back and Donal McDermott. Joe Bunney should be fit for taking part next Tuesday or Saturday.
“But going back to tonight, I was really pleased with the players. I’m pleased with the football club as we look forward into the future.”
Watch the full interview on Dale PlayerHD.