Hill methodical in survival push
ROCHDALE manager Keith Hill insists that his team are mentally equipped to deal with the pressure of a relegation battle.
Dale claimed a derby victory over local rivals Bury on Tuesday night courtesy of goals from Ryan Delaney and Ian Henderson. The result moved Hill’s men to within one point of safety with games in hand on the teams above them, but the manager was keen to take a grounded view of his side’s progression.
Speaking after the game he said: “It’s got to be methodical. It’s got to be clear thinking and that’s what I’m trying to do. Leave the chaos and the carnival to all the pundits.
“I don’t believe there’s pressure in football, I think it’s hyped. I think it’s supersensitive, created by the media, by pundits, by people who want my job, it’s as simple as that.
“I don’t respond to it because I’m very fortunate to be in this position. Don’t worry, I’m not afraid of hard work. This is a privilege to me to be doing this. Pressure, what is it? What we do isn’t pressure.”
Tuesday’s result capped a productive Easter weekend for the Dale, who came from behind to beat high-flying Shrewsbury Town on Good Friday.
Hill believes his team are on track but must remain calm and take things back to basics if they are to avoid the drop: “You’ve got to try and take the pressure off the players. You’ve got to have a plan, but you can’t overcoach the players. You can’t give them too much information, you’ve got to keep it simple.
“All we’ve asked is that going into the last ten games we’re five points within striking distance, and then we can make the most of the last ten games. We’ve closed that gap over the last two games to one point and we’ve still got games in hand.
He added: “It’s not a miracle we’re trying to achieve, but methodically we’ve got to pick up the points, and out of the next eight games I think we’ve got to pick up at least 11 points.”
The Dale boss says that his belief in his team is strong, despite some detractors: “There are still the Doubting Thomases, but I can’t emphasise enough, we are still superseding league position that we should be in.”
And ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Portsmouth, Hill hopes that his measured approach can inspire his side to a vital three points: “We’re still in a hole, there’s no question about that, but we have to make sure we take the momentum into Saturday’s game. It’s a difficult game against worthy opponents attempting to get into the play-offs.”