PDP Lead Coach Chris Brown is hoping for a return to winning ways for the Youth Team this weekend.
They face a trip to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup, still in with a chance of progressing to the second round.
One loss and one win from their first two games in Northern Group 6 leave the Youth Team in third spot, with two games remaining.
They exited the FA Youth Cup at the first-round stage on Tuesday night with a 1-0 defeat against Accrington Stanley, and Brown is hoping to see an instant response against Doncaster.
“There’s only one way [to respond], and that’s getting back on the horse, getting back to winning ways and playing well,” said Brown.
“In the grand scheme of things, Tuesday was just one game, but it was an important game and one that we should really have won.
“It was very disappointing, and the lads know they let themselves down. Hopefully Doncaster tomorrow will be a different vibe, and a change in performance levels to get back to where we were before Tuesday.
“Some of the performance levels and results before Tuesday were superb – the Accrington result [5-2 victory], the Bury result [4-1 victory], the Preston result [losing 2-0 at half-time and winning 3-2].
“The attacking side has been really good, as has the defensive side. Overall, performances have been really positive, and I think there’s a lot more to come.”
Victory against Doncaster will draw Dale within a point of Port Vale, who lead Northern Group 6.
The six group winners advance to the second round, along with two best-placed runners-up.
With not many second-round places up for grabs, both sides will be looking to keep alive their hopes of progressing in the competition.
“It will be a difficult game.
“They’re in a different league to us, so we don’t know too much about them, but we’ve got some video footage on them and done our analysis as usual.
“I’m really just looking forward to how we perform, and how respond from Tuesday.
“A few of the lads might get a shock in that they’re not playing, and some who have done well recently will be rewarded. James Neild is one of those who will start, because he deserves it.”
You can watch the full interview on iFollow.