Jimmy McNulty says Dale will fight for everything in the final three games of the season, starting with Saturday’s trip to Stockport County.
Anything but three wins will see Dale relegated from the EFL, and even that may not be enough if results elsewhere don’t go the right way.
But the Interim Manager insists the fight remains from inside the club and Saturday is a game Dale are looking forward to.
“I want a brilliant attitude towards every game,” said McNulty.
“We have to give every game what it deserves and trying to take out the context of the situation in some ways, but also letting it remain in others.
“We have to use any fuel for our fire to provide the fight that’s required in every game, but certainly in a relegation fight that many think we’re destined for doom in anyway.
“I just want to show that the fight remains within our walls and we’re aiming to bring that in every game and try to produce points.
“The players have responded well to me and I’m proud of them for that. They’ve given me and the club their all in my period in charge.
“I can only reflect with honesty and focus on my own period in charge, because it’s been the period where I’ve been able to assess and have access to everything. Within that period I have genuinely been really proud of the players.”
Saturday’s opponents are still in the hunt for automatic promotion and are unbeaten in ten games.
McNulty, who used to play for County earlier in his career, says he knows the importance of the local derby to the supporters.
“They’re really on the march. It’s rocking right now over there.
“In terms of the game, it’s a really exciting one for us. It’s a massive game. Even if you take the context out of the league, it’s a local derby first and foremost.
“The fans want to see the basic elements required from a local derby and I will be expressing that to our players, 100%. I know our fans, like any other fans that I’ve played in front of, they’re ready to support when you provide those moments for them to do that. Local derbies provide those moments.
“It’s a really exciting game and the players will be looking forward to it.”
Watch the full interview with Dale’s Interim Manager on our official YouTube channel below.