Adam Clayton believes that a new-look Dale have settled into the 2023/24 season well.
12 matches in, Dale sit in 8th spot, following five wins and three draws, with Southend United the visitors this Saturday.
The midfielder believes Dale could have more points but that there are signs to be positive about the start, although he says the hard work must continue.
“We’re 12 games into a new revolution here,” said Clayton.
“We’re completely changing the way we want to play. There is a lot of new personnel, so it does take time, but there have been more than enough signs to be positive about this season.
“We’ve settled into the season really well and have played some good games. You could argue that we should have a few more points than we’ve got, but it’s about keeping our feet on the ground and working day in day out on what the gaffer wants us to do.
“We’ve got a really good group that wants to learn and are hungry to learn. It’s going well at the moment, and it can go even better.
“We play a possession-based style, you can see that from the outside. It gets me on the ball quite a lot, so I’m really enjoying it.
“I enjoy being a part of the way we’re all learning, and I’m learning how to play the position that the manager wants me to play and how he wants me to do the role.
“So, I’m learning as well as the team. I can try to bring my experience and it’s going well.
“We’re playing some really good football more often than not and we deserve more points than we’ve got.
“We’ve got a decent total considering we’re such a new group, but it’s just about carrying on doing it, be as good as you can in your position, and collectively we’ll be better.”
Southend come to the Crown Oil Arena off the back of a 1-1 draw with Aldershot Town on Tuesday, which saw them move off the bottom of the table, following their ten-point deduction last month.
Without that, the Shrimpers would be one point and one place behind Dale in the table, and Clayton is aware that they will provide a tough test.
“It's easy to say it, but there are no easy games, regardless of opposition.
“Even the teams that are 40% possession-based, you think we’ll have all of the ball, we’ll do this and that, but it’s tough to break them down and play against their strengths.
“Southend have started the season well, had a little dip but have started to play again. There is a lot going on off the field, but I don’t know much on that side things.
“I’m sure they will come and try to take the points away from us, and we’ve just got to play our game. We’ve got to try and get the points doing it the way we want to do it.”
Watch the full interview with Clayton on our official YouTube channel below.