Paul McShane was pleased to mark his Rochdale debut with a victory over Accrington Stanley.
The Republic of Ireland international joined on a short-term contract last week, and says he was made to feel welcome at the Club straight away.
“I’m very happy,” said McShane.
“It’s always nice to start off with a win. We dug in at stages in the game. They’re a decent side and they caused us a few problems, but the lads really dug in.
“Sometimes you’ve got to be scrappy and win games, and that’s also a good sign. At times, we played some good football, but I think it’s just nice to get that monkey off my back of my first game and it was nice that it was a win.
“The warm-up was tough, to be honest - I haven’t done a warm-up in ages! I was trying to preserve energy at times and feel my way in. In the first-half I felt fine, but towards the last 15-20 minutes, I could feel it a little bit in the legs.
“That was my first 90 minutes since last August, so over a year. I was just glad to get my first game in and get started with a win.
“It’s just about coming in and getting to know the lads. I could feel straight away that the lads were a good, honest bunch, and that they’d make me feel welcome, and they did that.
“I just wanted to get involved in the pattern of plays that Brian does and get as much information as I could in two days, but also to know that I’ve played football before and not to get too bogged down by everything. I needed to get out there and play, and I’m just glad it’s out of the way now.
“I was with Calvin Andrew for a few months at Crystal Palace and I’ve played against Aaron Wilbraham a few times – he’s given me a few stitches!
“I knew of the Irish lads, because you always keep an eye out for the Irish lads that are over in England.
“I was saying to Doney that if he had a ‘U’ in his name he would be ‘Dunne’, so it was nearly a complete back four of Irish today!”
Watch the full interview with McShane on iFollow Dale HERE.