Devante Rodney said that Dale's pre-season fixture against Tranmere Rovers was a good, competitive game of football.
Rodney opened up his pre-season account with a goal against Tranmere Rovers in a 2-0 win on Tuesday afternoon.
Prior to that, Tyrese Sinclair grabbed Dale's first from the penalty spot to give Dale the lead in the first-half.
This win marked Dale's fourth pre-season game, with just two friendlies left to go before the 2023/24 Vanarama National League season kicks off.
The club's top scorer from last season was pleased with how the game went.
"I feel like we’ve done well. Obviously, it was a different line-up to the other day, the lads who only played 30 [minutes] on Saturday reversed and played 60 today, and the lads who started at the weekend played 30 today," he commented.
"I thought that it was a good, competitive game of football and I thought that we did well today."
A well-worked move down Dale's left led to the forward's first pre-season goal.
"It’s always good to score goals, but at the end of the day in pre-season, it's all about fitness," said the forward.
"When it comes closer to the season starting that’s when you start focusing on goals and that kind of stuff."
Check out both of our goals from yesterday's 2-0 win against Tranmere Rovers 🎥@ty_sinclair27 with his 2⃣nd goal in 3⃣ games 🤝@DevanteRodney rounding off a well-worked move to open his pre-season account 👊#RAFC pic.twitter.com/lUMlBphGcz
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) July 19, 2023
After picking up a fantastic assist against Radcliffe in Dale's opening pre-season game, Oscar Kelly was instrumental in creating Dale's second goal against Tranmere.
The young forward did well to beat his man down Dale's left-hand side before finding Jimmy Keohane. The 32-year-old then laid the ball off to Rodney who finish beyond the Tranmere 'keeper.
"To be fair, Oscar has been brilliant. He’s come back really fit this pre-season and he’s done really well," said Rodney.
"When he gets it out wide, it’s all about getting into the box because you know he’s going to deliver."
So far the minutes have been split in each of the pre-season games with all the players getting an equal amount of game time.
Rodney has said that this set-up, mixed with an engaging pre-season training schedule has left him feeling sharp.
"It’s good because all of the lads are getting a good amount of game time, and I feel really sharp for sure.
"Obviously in pre-season, it’s normally about getting your head down and running from line to line, all that kind of stuff. But, Jim’s been great, he’s got us doing double sessions, but it’s all football-based stuff and I think the lads are really loving it."
Dale have got just two more pre-season fixtures left before the 2023/24 Vanarama National League season begins.
The opening day will see Dale welcome Ebbsfleet United to the Crown Oil Arena. With the pre-season fixture schedule two-thirds of the way complete and with that first league game just two weeks away, Rodney is eager for the start of this year's campaign.
"I think that’s the main aim now, everyone’s itching for the first game which is live on BT, I can’t wait for that one."
