Dale chief wants his players to become more professional

KEITH Hill is calling for a ‘better product’ from his players as they head into this afternoon’s clash against Rotherham at the Crown Oil Arena.

Dale made it five successive clean sheets with the midweek 0-0 draw against Stoke City in the Checkatrade Trophy Group C clash.

And while Hill is hoping the improved defensive solidity of his side will instil belief in the squad, the boss is looking for an end product to Dale’s approach play.

And he insists the only way to do that is practice

“It should breed confidence but we need a better product from the players,” he said.

“They have got to be more professional. It annoys me that there is a lack of intense practice from the players and sometimes that shows with the mistakes that they make.

“I am trying to change one or two of the players in their application and their attitude towards their application in training days in order to get a better product on matchdays.

“I have seen it over the last four or five games from certain players – I don’t want to name names – but that has got to continue, it has to be part of their development that they are practising the right product on the training pitch to improve and become better at performing when three points are at stake.

“I have one or two players who think that training is just a jolly up and it’s not.”