Manager Robbie Stockdale’s assessment of Dale’s 2-0 defeat to promotion hopefuls Exeter City…
"It was a tough game. They’re looking like they’re going to be promoted from our division so it was always going to be a very difficult game. Obviously there was a capacity crowd for them and we wanted to come here and spoil that party,” said the gaffer.
“I thought in the first half, certainly the first 25 minutes, we were excellent. We were really, really good and dominated the game and probably should have been 2-0 up in the opening 10 minutes. We cut them open time and time again and, for me, [they score from] a dubious free-kick- sometimes you get them and some times you don’t - in that instance I get that, and they put the ball in our goal from a set-piece which is always disappointing.
“Second half, we really struggled to click into gear and the second goal kills the game a little bit, to be honest. We found it difficult to have any momentum or any control in it. We made a couple of changes and tried to be positive but with players having injuries and players on the pitch injured.
“At 2-0 down, the reaction of the players was half decent and in the last 10 minutes we were pushing to put them under pressure but they managed the game very well.”
And Stockdale believes that Exeter’s goal proved vital, after Dale had been unable to convert their early chances.
“In any game of football, the first goal is usually really important and I felt it was today.
“We did 90% of the job dominating the ball and dominating the game without the ball. There was a sense of a bit of frustration in the crowd and if we get that first goal when we should have then it just piles a lot more pressure on them and it might have made them a bit nervous.
“The fact they they get it [the goal], gives the crowd a lift and makes it a very difficult job for us. Second half, it was frustrating to watch from the touchline and I didn’t feel that we played at the same tempo, but at the same time, you’re coming to a team that are second in the division and you’re not going to dominate everything all the time.”
Second year scholars Jordan Scanlon and Peter Thomas were named on the bench for the fixture.
“It’s great experience for them coming here. Travelling with the first team, being in this environment and being in around us will only do them good.”
Watch the gaffer’s post-match interview in full on the club’s YouTube channel.