Manager Keith Hill gives his reaction to Dale’s defeat at MK Dons…
“We took the lead and then stopped doing what got us the lead, and it became chaotic. We went 1-0 up and climbed a mountain to get back into it before half time then we shoot ourselves in the foot. The lads have got to think clearly and they’ve got to have intelligent energy. Their first goal is an absolute car crash and we’re just not putting it together.
“Defensively today, from back to front, we were shocking, but offensively, we looked as though we could score more than the two goals. There is a strategy in place for the opposition, but there were individual mistakes and unit mistakes, and unless the players sort that out and execute our strategy, then we will not win football matches, it’s as simple as that.”
Hill continued: “I want to win football matches. [We might have created the better of the chances in the second half] but who cares when you look at the score-line, when you look at the league table and you look at the fact we’ve been beaten four times and we’ve only won one game. It doesn’t look good and it doesn’t feel good.
“That’s as agitated as I’ve been on the touchline for a long time, because the lads aren’t performing to the standard that I expect and I know that they’re capable of doing.
“There’s too much inconsistency from player performances and it leaves you scratching your head. Unfortunately, if it doesn’t arrest itself then we’re going to be in trouble and that’s the harsh reality of it. Today we’ve scored two but we’ve conceded three and it’s not acceptable.
“I’m pretty angry at this moment in time, because there’s better from these players. I’m looking at their character and saying ‘right, you better start doing what you know you can do, or you won’t play’.
“There seems to be a book of excuses and lot of the players are on different pages of the book of excuses - there are a lot of players making excuses for not doing what’s necessary to win football matches. A lot of it comes down to bravery, it’s not about the tactical shape that we’re using, it comes down to bravery, and there are a lot excuses in that changing room. That’s the worry for me.”
The full seven minute interview will be available to view on iFollow.