Manager Robbie Stockdale on Dale’s 2-1 win over Barrow…
After going ahead through Jake Beesley shortly before the half hour mark, the Bluebirds equalised ten minutes into the second half from the penalty spot. Beesley netted his second of the afternoon in the 72nd minute to seal the points for Dale.
“I thought we were superb in the first half - really, really good,” said the Gaffer.
“I put on the board inside the changing rooms three things that I really wanted to see from the game. That was the desire to block and tackle and be aggressive in our play against the ball, I wanted to see our physical data being really high and I wanted to see quality on the ball.
“For large periods of that game, especially the first half, we showed that in abundance.
“The second half, [was saw] the other side of the game, but it was a sloppy goal to concede. We shouldn’t be tackling in the box - it shouldn’t really get there in the first place.
“But, again, this young group of players dusted themselves down and went again. It’s great for Jake [Beesley] to get the couple of goals. He’s needed that - his work rate was never in doubt but centre-forwards always like to score.
“It’s a really pleasing day. I felt we deserved it and were good value.”
The boss continued: “I thought towards the end of the first half we got a little bit sloppy in our play and it gave them a little bit of encouragement.
“They had to [change formation] - I don’t know if you noticed their goalkeeper went down injured in the first half which meant they could make a tactical change and all ten players went over to the touchline.
“They changed and that’s obviously because they felt we were on top in the game but the second half was more bits of quality but a desire to keep the ball out of the goal, and all for a mistake that lead to another mistake that lead to a penalty, I felt that we weren’t too extended.
“Yes, there were balls coming into the box but we were heading them and we were in the right positions at the right times.
“The substitutes come on and do a really good job for us, so it’s a really pleasing away victory. It always pleasing to win away from home and it makes that half an hour on top of the game [because of the delayed start] even sweeter for us.
“Everybody in there is together, and the supporters backing us today like they did [was fantastic]. Hopefully they can all catch trains at the right time if they’ve had them booked. To come away from home to a tough place to play and take three points home is fantastic.”
The victory means Dale are now unbeaten in their last four, which includes back to back victories.
“It’s four unbeaten and three away games in that, that are tough places to go. I’m not getting carried away - I never get really low when things aren’t going so well and never get too high when things are going fantastically well, so I try to keep that middle ground because that’s when I feel I make better decisions when emotion is taking out of it.
“We have two cup games now and we want to progress, so that’s the next challenge for the players.”
Watch the full interview on YouTube.