Hill’s delighted with Dale despite Pompey snatching late goal

ROCHDALE manager Keith Hill believes it was a good point for his side despite conceding a late goal in the 3-3 draw with Portsmouth at the Crown Oil Arena.

Dale were heading for the victory before Pompey’s late equaliser, but Hill still felt his side were impressive in the game.

“I thought we played superb offensive football. We took the game to the opponent and I think Portsmouth rode their luck. They’re an excellent side and they didn’t go away, and they got the equaliser,” he said.

“We should have done better in those situations with the long balls forward, but I’m really pleased with the energy, the commitment, the way the players played, and arguably, it could be a good point.”

OLDHAM ATHLETIC boss Richie Wellens heaped praise on his young defensive duo of Tom Hamer and George Edmundson following their efforts in the 0-0 draw at Oxford United.

Hamer replaced the injured Kean Bryan just 18 minutes into in the game and played alongside fellow youngster Edmundson, and despite their inexperience, they managed to keep a clean sheet, much to the delight of Wellens.

“It looks like Kean’s pulled his hamstring and that’s a real blow for us. I thought when Tom Hamer came on, one centre-back is 18, one is 20, in a League One relegation dog fight and we reacted really well,” he said.

“It didn’t affect us as a team and I can only remember one instance in the second half when they put us under a little bit of pressure but we defended the goal like real experienced defenders and I was pleased with both of them.”

BURY are on the brink of relegation after they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.

An own goal from Adam Thompson in the 89th minute condemned Bury to defeat, leaving them 13 points from safety at the bottom of the League One table with just five games remaining.

WIGAN ATHLETIC moved back into the automatic promotion places after a dominant 5-1 win at home to MK Dons.

Will Grigg starred for the home side as he got a hat-trick, and he was pleased to contribute against his former club.

“It was brilliant; from the first whistle we dominated and got the early goal and that set the tempo,” Grigg said.

In the Championship, BOLTON WANDERERS are now just two points above the relegation zone after a 3-0 defeat at Derby County.