Manager Keith Hill spoke to iFollow ahead of Saturday’s League One fixture v Peterborough United…
Dale go into the match on the back of a good display at The Valley on Tuesday night and the Gaffer says the squad will take the positives into this weekend’s game against the Posh, as they look to push up the table.
“There are going to be lots of disappointments when you’re in this period of not winning football matches. There are disappointments from Tuesday night but there are also big positives. In defeat we found a lot of positives and you’ve got find positives in every situation, and we certainly got a lot the other night.
“We didn’t get a positive result but it was a good display. I expect us to pick up at least a point from that game but we didn’t, so we’ll keep on asking the players and demanding, to a certain degree, for performances and standards to be met, and we’ll keep on pushing forward.”
And Hill says it’s important the players continue to enjoy their football while working hard work in order to get through this difficult run of results.
“We’ve got to work exceptionally hard, which we are doing. We’ve got to be positive about everything that we do and remember that this is football, so it has got to be enjoyable. You’ve got to be able to enjoy it and learn, because you learn about yourself.
“I’d summarise enjoyment as going through the hard work, the endeavour, the hard times and the depressing moments throughout your life to then really understand what enjoyment is when it comes. It hits you smack in the face and you know what you’ve done to get to that stage.
“Whatever we’ve done at this football club, we’ve gone through hard times – I have personally – but this is one of the hardest times that we’ve gone through during my time at the football club but we’ll come through it and we’ll be stronger. Then when we get the good times, we’ll really appreciate them, and that’s what’s special about enjoyment and the good times.”
Saturday’s opponents, Peterborough United, currently sit just outside the play-off places, having won eight, drawn four and lost six of their opening 18 league games.
“They’re very creative,” said Hill.
“They are a very spontaneous, skilful side, and they’ve always been that way. The way they have done things under Darragh MacAnthony and Barry Fry, a succession of managers have all tried to produce the same type of football, and they’ve been very successful doing it. They’ve also been very good at selling players, and they’ve been very successful in getting promoted from League Two all the way through to the Championship and they’re trying to do that again. They invest in youthful players and they’ve got a good model.”
Watch the full interview on iFollow.