We’ll find a way without Hendo
KEITH Hill insists Rochdale can win the fight for League One survival without top scorer Ian Henderson.
Dale boosted their chances of retaining their place in the division with a 1-0 win at play-off chasing Peterborough United at the weekend.
Henderson fired the only goal of the game at London Road – but was sent off early in the second half and faces a three-match ban.
He was scheduled to miss out on last night’s home derby against Oldham, Saturday’s clash against Bradford and next Tuesday’s game against Plymouth, both at the Crown Oil Arena.
But Hill said he and his players would look for ways of winning without Henderson in the reckoning.
“I said to the lads that we have to come up with a different way with the players we have available,” said Hill. “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves with Ian Henderson missing for three games.
“We got a bad bounce against Wigan so I am pleased to have gone to Peterborough and responded in the right way and got the three points. It keeps us in the starters’ box and we’re still in the race.
“We’re still in the ring and Saturday was round one – we still have five games to go and we’re not in bad form over the last twelve games – we’ve lost two.
“So, with the heart and the desire that the players have shown, we are in good spirits and it shouldn’t dampen our enthusiasm for winning games.”
Hill said he would look again at the challenge which saw Henderson receive a red card before deciding whether or not to appeal, but either way the player would always have the support of his manager.
“He is a miss, no question, if the suspension is withheld,” he said.
“I’ve got to, and will always, support Ian Henderson because he is absolutely superb for us. With every competitor and winner there is a Roy Keane mentality.
“Sometimes they do step over the mark – it’s not because they are malicious, it’s because they are winners and they want to win. It was probably the wrong decision from Ian but he has always got my support. I think he has been sent off at least twice a season for the last four seasons.
“It could have derailed us, Hendo getting sent off, but even if we’d have been beaten, looking at the performance and the heart and desire, which was shared with the supporters, I would have been reasonably pleased.”
The Dale boss said Saturday was the first of the club’s six-game season and, ahead of last night’s match against Oldham at the Crown Oil Arena, he said:
“We’ve just got to keep on running. There’s no point competing 24 miles in a 26-mile marathon. It’s a 46-game season and we have five games left. We’re still alive and kicking and there is a good spirit in the camp.”
That spirit came to the fore against Posh on Saturday, with Dale’s ten men holding out for the win.
“There’s plenty of spirit, plenty of courage and plenty of fight from the players, so I’m pleased with that,” said Hill.
“But I’m stood here as a successful manager having won against Peterborough. They’re a marvellous side going forward.
“We rode a little bit of luck in the second half, but when they were prepared to shoot from distance and we had three central defenders on the pitch, then I’m reasonably happy with the stature of our defenders against the stature of their forwards.
“It only needs one quality moment from the opposition and they have got quality players and they could have undone us.
“I thought it was a real proud moment for me as a manager to stand there having won that football match and listening to the supporters.”
Josh Lillis produced a stunning save in the final minute of injury time, clawing away a Danny Lloyd header to seal the three points for Rochdale, and Hill praised the goalkeeper.
“That save reminds me of Bristol Rovers away during our promotion season where we basically secured promotion back to League One,” said Hill.
“It was a courageous save and a match winning save, and it gives us three points instead of one.”