Confidence key to competing

CONFIDENCE is key in Rochdale’s attempt to up their points per game ratio and start edging up towards the top half of League One.

Dale were beaten 3-1 at home by league leaders Portsmouth on Saturday and were due to face Bristol Rovers last night as the Observer went to press.

And Keith Hill wants his side to abandon any fear when taking on the division’s big guns, reminding his players that they have battled – and beaten – the big clubs before.

“We’re ten games in with eleven points, we have to convert more points per game ratio,” he said. “We know that now, we knew it at the beginning of the season and the end of last season, so the “We should be competing But after levelling midway on having taken the lead. learn quickly because we players don’t need to be against these clubs, we through the first half, “You have to respect are conceding goals and reminded of how to win are in League One and Pompey scored twice in your opponent and sometimes the bottom line is teams games. They just need the we’ve done it before. But the last 20 minutes to you can’t stop an are not scoring goals from confidence to put it into it’s getting very difficut secure victory. opponent. If they are better their penalty area, they practice and I am sure it because it is like a who’s Hill accepted that the than you it’s very difficult. are scoring goals in our will come. who – a lot of these sides high-flying opposition There wasn’t any lack penalty area, so it is up to

“I was watching the are Championship teams were the better side on the of work rate, energy, honesty our defenders to defend Coventry against Sunderland playing in League One day, citing their ability to or endeavour, I just better and make better game earlier on and some of them, if not a make better footballing feel they were probably decisions. Saturday and not too long third of them, have played decisions as key to the better than using every “Their second goal ago that was a Premier in the Premier League if outcome. department and there is really disappointed me League game! The commentators you look at the Barnsleys, “Portsmouth make no shame in that. because it started in the said that the Charltons, the Coventrys, good footballing decisions “It’s up to the players to opponent’s own half and League One is getting Sunderland, Portsmouth, on the pitch, they learn and develop with we should be doing better really difficult and we Bradford and a have the experience, good respect to playing against as a front four or three to have played some very few more as well. leadership qualities and the likes of Brett Pitman, stop that situation developing. good opposition and there “So we are doing well to the difference between he is an excellent player, he But you can’t take is more to come. retain our League One the two sides was their always has been, and he anything away from Pitman’s

“We shouldn’t fear this status and we are hell bent decision-making on the knows where the goal is. finish. league and we shouldn’t on doing it again this pitch,” he said. “I knew for most of the “So I am disappoint but be saying ‘well, we’ve been season.” “They are a good side. I week that he was going to I will stick to the task in beaten by Portsmouth or Aaron Wilbraham thought we played some play and for Ryan Delaney, hand and that is to try to by millionaire’s row Peterborough handed Dale a great start nice stuff at times but I am he has got to learn breathe a little bit of life or Sunderland, when he fired home a goal disappointed with the from these games, from and confidence into the with one player costing the of the season contender result and a little disappointed the players he’s playing players and take it into whole of our budget. after just three minutes. with didn’t push against and he’s got to Tuesday’s game.”

Published by MEN Media, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, OL9 8EF. Printed by Reach Printing Services (Oldham) Limited, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EB