Jim Bentley says Dale thoroughly deserved Saturday’s 2-0 win over promotion chasing Stevenage.
First-half goals from Devante Rodney and Danny Lloyd sealed the three points, which closed the gap to the teams above in the table.
The gaffer was pleased with the performance and the manner of the goals.
“It was a big win for us, a win that we’ve needed,” said Bentley.
“There’s no better place to get back on track than in front of your home fans, give them something to shout about and go home happy, which we haven’t done enough of. But I thought we thoroughly deserved the win.
“When you get a goal, it gives you something to cling on to. It’s great that we could go and get a second, and maybe we could have had a third and fourth.
“It’s important that when the ball goes in it sticks. I think it was Quigs [Scott Quigley] who did it twice on those occasions [for the goals]. They were fantastic goals for the level and great goals for the team that are bottom of the league.
“Usually when you’re in the position that we’re in you might scab a 1-0, but we haven’t even done that. It wasn’t a smash and grab - we’ve deserved the victory today and the goals that we’ve scored were perfect so every credit to the lads.
“We could have scored a couple more and they might have got one or two, but overall it was a big win for us and, like I say, it was deserved.
“And if we can beat Stevenage, and we obviously don’t have to play Leyton Orient again, then we shouldn’t be fearing anyone, and I’ve said that from day one. Anyone is capable of beating anyone else.
“There’s no cartwheels and there’s no popping of the champagne. The dressing room is more of a few handshakes and a bit of relief, and it’ll be a nicer weekend for us all.
“It gives us a little shot in the arm going into next week. But that’s what we’ve got to do, and if we can do that, we give ourselves a chance. So we take the three points and move onto a positive week and hopefully back it up with something again next week as well.”
Watch the full post-match interview with Bentley below via our official YouTube channel.