Dale boss calling for positive performance

ROCHDALE boss Keith Hill called for a positive performance and result from his players ahead of last night’s match against Doncaster Rovers.

Following Saturday’s 3-0 loss at the hands of Blackburn, Dale were handed a quick opportunity to bounce back with another game at the Crown Oil Arena.

“People will be expecting us to win against Doncaster, and so do I as a manager,” Hill said.

“I expect us to be prepared and ready, to dust ourselves down and go again, full of confidence.

“It’s early season and we are in a situation where we need points. So we have got to be strong and brave and better at making decisions in game speed.”

However, while the Yorkshire outfit do not carry the same kind of illustrious tag as the weekend’s visitors, Hill said they were still a much bigger club than Dale and could boast recent experience in the Championship.

“Four seasons ago they were in the Championship,” he said.

“Doncaster is a big club, we know that, but our expectations are to do as well if not better than Doncaster. I have a lot of respect for them, they are ex-Championship as a lot of League One clubs are now.

“We are one of few who haven’t been there, so we have got to do our best to try to arrest the results and turn in a good performance and result against Doncaster because if we don’t then the pressure on the players and me as a manager increases. You can turn all of that on its head with one good result, as we saw last season – but last season is history now.”

Doncaster beat Blackburn 3-1 last month, their only of the season win to date.