Jimmy McNulty has hailed Tuesday night’s draw with Plymouth Argyle as “great point” gained.
The visitors broke the deadlock eight minutes after the break through a Joel Grant header, but Dale, who were very much improved on their first half display, had the perfect response, as Ryan Delaney equalised with a looping header just two minutes later, a goal which would eventually secure a share of the spoils.
“It’s a great point on the night,” said McNulty.
“To be fair to Plymouth, I thought they were excellent for large periods of the game. Particularly in the first half, we struggled to get to grips with their movement. They had a lively front three who were interchangeable, and we struggled to cope with that, but fair play also to our boys.
“The first half was about survival, sometimes survival is about a little bit of luck as well, and we survived. The staff made the right choices at half time and we gained a foothold in the game.
“It was a shame to go behind when we were turning the corner in the match and starting to gain some momentum. Plymouth, at that point, were just starting to feel our impact on them, after we had felt their impact on us during the first half.
“They scored the goal, which was against the run of play, so it was tough blow to take, but I remember praying that we could do something from the corner that we got quite quickly afterwards and that we could take the steam out of them having just gone1-0 up.
“I know that whenever you go ahead in a game and you concede instantly it’s very tough, and thankfully Ryan attacked the ball and it went in the back of the net. It was a key moment for us.”
McNulty was an unused substitute in the match, after Manager Keith Hill opted for a change in formation, something the defender gave his full backing to.
“There are different plans for different games, and I’m confident the Gaffer will execute the right plans personnel wise and formation wise for each game. In the end, whether we started well or not, the plan came together and we got a vital point.
“Whether I’m the player being sacrificed or someone else, you’ve got to take your turn to do the right thing on the side line and support from there, because it’s a squad game and every game is so key.
“The Gaffer sat down with me and told me I wouldn’t be playing. He told me what the plan was and I fully agreed with it. Whether we executed it on the night or not is a different matter, but the plan was right, as it has been almost every game, to be fair to him.”
While on the touchline during the game, McNulty was subjected to abuse, in the form of some choice words, from a supporter. Although concerned about the incident, the defender accepts that the majority of fans are fully behind the players and he hopes everyone can pull together for the final two games of the season.
“The fan called me a few names. What went on there was a shame, because we should all be on the same page and pulling in the same direction.
“The supporters in that area sorted that particular fan out – I didn’t need to do it myself.
“Most of us are pulling together in the same direction, and that’s what we need going forward into the last two games.”