Robbie Stockdale hopes Dale’s recent run of results can help to build momentum ahead of Saturday’s trip to Port Vale.
His side have won three out of the last four in all competitions, including back-to-back away games.
“It should give us confidence and belief,” said the gaffer.
“In the two games we played away from home we’ve been good for large periods of those games. The home form needs to match that.
“It was good as a confidence builder to win on Tuesday night. I was maybe, in hindsight, a little bit harsh on the players on Tuesday. You’ve got to think that a lot of the team was coming back from Covid and injuries, the majority of the team would have been eligible to play for Liverpool’s team, so it was young.
“On the back of that, and not having a great deal of time to work with that starting 11, they grew into the game. We started a little bit slow, a bit tentative, a bit like a reserve game, but once we got our act together, I thought we produced some really good football.
“It’s a good headache to have [selection for Saturday’s game]. I’ve said from the very off that I want competition for places, I think that drives everybody on. In the same aspect, we’re going to need everyone. I sound like a broken record with that one.
“It’s not as though I’ve got a starting eleven and that’s it for every game, that would be impossible in this league, especially with the cup games. Everyone will play a part. I think, on the whole, everybody probably has up to now, with maybe a couple a bit down due to injuries and missing through Covid. I think it proves the point that everybody is going to be really important.”
Tuesday’s win over Liverpool Under-21s also brought an end to Stockdale’s first month of competitive football in charge of the club, a period he views as steady.
“There have been some really good bits. The exciting bit for me is that we can only get better from here. Again, even on the back of the 4-0 the other night, I think there are areas we can improve in and that’s exciting for me and the staff.
“Even better than that, the players are really responsive to it as well. It’s been a steady start for us. It could have been better, could have been worse, but we’re looking to build now and try to get a bit of momentum, which, hopefully, with the past few games we’re starting to build.”
The gaffer also commented on the summer transfer window, which has seen him bring in ten players.
“I’m very pleased. We’ve managed to do a lot of our business early.
“Tuesday wasn’t particularly busy for us; it was just seeing if people were coming in for our players because we’ve got some good ones. Thankfully, there was nothing in regard to that.
“We spoke with a couple of clubs about players, but I felt that anybody else I want to bring in has to really impact on the team, and there wasn’t anybody that really did that.
“I’m really happy with what we’ve got, it’s nice to get it out of the way. It’s been hectic, as you can imagine, with the amount of players that we’ve brought in, but I’m really looking forward now to working with that squad, working together with the players, and we can really concentrate on that.”
Click HERE to watch the full interview with Stockdale on YouTube, where he also gives an injury update.