Dale boss takes positives

Date published: 11 August 2014


KEITH Hill insisted Rochdale’s opening day defeat against Peterborough would not affect his young team’s confidence levels.

Dale’s return to Sky Bet League One ended with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Posh at Spotland, Kyle Vassell’s 61st-minute winner settling the contest.

But Hill was able to pick out positives from the performance.

“The standard we are playing at now is a step up from last season, but I thought we executed our gameplan superbly and I would suggest we were unfortunate,” he said.

“We will have to defend the kind of situation which led to Peterborough’s goal better if we are to be successful this season, but for 99-per-cent of the game we were outstanding.

“There was a lot of bravery and a lot to be encouraged by in that performance, but the bottom line says that we were beaten 1-0.”

The visitors showed the kind of quality which carried them to the play-offs last season in a dominant opening spell.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing hit the crossbar and saw another effort pushed over the top by Dale ’keeper Josh Lillis.

But Dale came into the match as the half wore on and Rhys Bennett forced a fine save from Ben Alnwick after a sharp turn and shot.

Ian Henderson and George Donnelly also tested the Posh stopper before Vassell’s winner.

“We pitted our wits against a very, very good side and we were narrowly beaten,” said Hill.

“I thought it was a highly-entertaining game — but we do want to be successful.”