Hill calls on Dale to start new run
ROCHDALE head to Coventry today looking to kickstart a new run of form after their six-game winning sequence came to an end at Swindon on Tuesday.
The Robins ran out 3-0 winners at the County Ground against a Dale side who struggled to match the energy displayed in the weekend’s derby win against Bury.
Joe Bunney was dismissed late in the game, making it a miserable night in Wiltshire for Hill and his men.
Today they head to the East Midlands to take on a Coventry City side currently second bottom of League One.
Dale dropped down a place from fourth to fifth following the midweek defeat – not that Hill will pay much attention to his own side’s nor the Sky Blues’ position in the table.
“League position means nothing, it’s not an indicator of the capabilities of the side,” he told the club’s official website.
“Both Swindon and Coventry are capable, both represent idealistic way of playing, the way that it is taught and coached on your qualifying certificates.
“Coventry have a lot of good players and will be a very difficult obstacle to overcome.”
On the game at Swindon in midweek, Hill said: “We didn’t turn up. I don’t know whether it was a hangover from Saturday – did we leave the energy on the pitch?
“We knew what we had to do at Swindon but we didn’t do it in the first half.
“They could have scored more than the two goals in the first half because we weren’t taking responsibility for closing down and marking players, two things that are really important to the way that we do things.
“We will allow the opposition to have more possession than us in games like that, but we have to close down, we have to accept responsibility and it took us until half time, when we made changes, to do it.”
Having gone into half time trailing 2-0 after the Robins had scored through Darnell Furlong and Nathan Delfouenso, Dale had a great chance to get back into the game with a penalty just after the break.
However, Ian Henderson’s spot kick was brilliantly pushed over the bar by Swindon stopper Lawrence Vigouroux.
“We had a golden opportunity to get back into the game – the keeper has made a great save,” said Hill.
“It was just one of those games, it went away from us from the first whistle and you do get nights like that.
“But I have to make sure I don’t over-analyse or be too critical, accept it and move on.”
Hill added to his squad this week with the signing of David Owusu, who joined the club from Isthmian League Premier Division side Merstham FC.
The 17-year-old forward agreed terms with Dale after impressing during a trial at the club.
Expected to be one for the future, he has previously played at grass roots and at non-league level.
Academy manager Tony Ellis said: “I think he’ll be a really good signing for the football club.
“David has got a lot of what we want and he really impressed during his trial.
“He had a lot of the non-negotiables that the gaffer likes – his work-rate was brilliant, he pressed, he made body contact, and he got himself in goal-scoring areas, so his movement was really good.
“We will need to be patient as there is still work to be done, but what the manager is really good at is giving young players opportunities.”
Owusu added: “I’m really pleased to have joined a professional football club – it’s an amazing feeling.
“I got a good feel for the place during my trial and I really enjoyed it here.
“I’m moving away from my home in London to join the club so I’m pleased that I’m coming into a place that’s got good people.
“I’ve previously played in non-league so it’s a new environment for me but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
‘Coventry have a lot of good players and will be a very difficult obstacle to overcome’