Dale continue to defy the odds

Keith Hill’s Rochdale side still has plenty of fight - even without a host of key performers.

Heading into the game at MK Dons on Tuesday night, few neutrals gave Dale too much hope of getting a positive result.

Defeats, injuries and a suspension left manager Hill’s options severely limited. But Rochdale emerged with a point - and it could have been three, given that they took the lead 2-1 in the 76th minute.

“I’m happy with a point as we are at stretching point - but not breaking point - at the moment,” said Hill.

The Rochdale boss has made one signing that should boost his club’s play-off credentials: Blackpool

midfield man Tomasz Cywka has joined on loan until January.

The Polish midfielder (26) had a brief spell with Athletic eight years ago and has since turned out for Derby, Reading and Barnsley.

Cywka is likely to make his debut at Spotland on Saturday as Rochdale and Athletic do battle wth both just outside the top six.

Hill isn’t getting ahead of himself though: “Do we want to be in the promotion shake-up? Of course we do,” he said.

“But we can’t force it and can’t suggest we are in a position to be on a promotion campaign. We are just on a retaining League One status campaign.”