Manager Keith Hill reflects on Rochdale’s 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers…
Ian Henderson gave Dale the lead in controversial circumstances, with the officials taking an age to confirm the goal just before the half hour mark.
Liam Sercombe equalised shortly after the break, before Joe Partington put the home side ahead.
Henderson grabbed his second and an equaliser almost instantly, but Dale were undone by Lines’ spectacular effort 11 minutes from time.
“I’m disappointed that we haven’t come away with anything from the game, but we’ve been here before,” said Hill.
“The performance itself merited more, but it’s small detail – detail that the players are responsible for, and individual players have cost us tonight.
“It was a superb first half, so for us to concede three second half goals is very disappointing. I feel very upset about that, because the players are working hard. 99.9% of everything we’re doing is good – the structure is good and we’re good with and without the ball, but then there will be a moment of weakness and then another moment of weakness which is followed by another moment of weakness and then all of a sudden you’re losing a game 3-2 that you should be getting something out of, and that’s the season in nutshell.”
He continued: “The individual mistakes we’ve seen tonight haven’t been evident for the last three games, but the manner in which we conceded is reminiscent of two thirds of the season, and that’s why we are where we are in the league. I expect better from a group of individuals – the team, I can’t ask for much more, but individuals have got to accept the responsibilities of what they do against an opponent. Tonight, it hasn’t been evident for the 90 minutes. It has been there for 99.9% of the game but not over the full 90 minutes, and individual key components and small mistakes have cost us tonight.”