Jimmy McNulty came away with more positives than negatives despite Dale’s opening day defeat.
A solitary goal consigned Dale to defeat at home to Ebbsfleet United, but the Head Coach felt Dale did more than enough to win the game.
“In a way, I’m glad the first game is now done and out of the way,” said McNulty.
“There is a lot of anxiety towards that first game. There’s almost a feeling that you get ten points for a win on the opening day, not three.
“It’s a feeling that certainly bubbles underneath. I’m no different, I was desperate to win the first game.
“Assessing it on its merits, I think we dominated the ball and dominated territory. We dominated chances.
“Ebbsfleet sat in a deep block and if you gave me the chances we had today, in another game, I don’t think I’d trade you them for something else.
“It was more than enough to win the game. I like how brave they [Ebbsfleet] were in their moments, where they tried to play one-vs-one and escape the pressure, because we pressed them so well.
“We won the ball off them so much – there were huge periods where they were struggling to get out. It was just breakaway counters where they looked dangerous, but that’s no discredit to them. I felt they’d play that way.
“I think we can even better against teams that just sit in. The goal – I don’t know how it’s gone in. These things happen in football.
“They really need the first goal today, because I think if we’d have got the first goal, I don’t think we’d have looked back. It could have been quite a strong victory.”
Watch the full interview with McNulty below via our official YouTube channel.