DALE LEARN FROM HULL TEST – AND MAKE IT HELL FOR TYKES...
ROCHDALE ran Hull close on Tuesday night and manager Keith Hill credited that outing with laying the foundations for a comprehensive win over Barnsley.
The ex-Tykes boss guided Rochdale to a thoroughly-deserved victory as Calvin Andrew, Peter Vincenti and Ian Henderson scored.
The visitors didn’t produce a shot on until the 71st minute and Hill pointed to a 1-0 midweek defeat to Championship opponents in the Capital One Cup as the perfect preparation.
“That was both a sick and slick performance,” beamed Hill. “Tuesday night’s per- formance at Hull in the League Cup was excellent and it gave us all plenty of encouragement. The lads clearly learned so much from that and turned it on here.
“We just needed to be a little more precise, and in the end everything came together nicely.
“Don’t forget any manager is only ever three games away from getting the sack, so you have to be on your toes all the time.
“We’re trying to build that bit of stability and continuity here, and I think you can see that in how the players are playing at the moment.”
Rochdale went in front after eight minutes when experienced front-man Andrew drilled home clinically from 20 yards – his second goal of the season.The lead was doubled nine minutes before the break when Vincenti planted home a simple header from a poorly-defended Donal McDermott corner-kick.
The Tykes’ best effort came when Cardiff loanee Kadeem Harris curled a strike inches wide in what was his first start for the club.
It was 3-0 after 63 minutes. This time skipper Jamie Allen played Henderson in and he clipped a cute effort over goalkeeper Adam Davies and into the far corner.
The Tykes’ best chance of a consolation goal came from Ben Pearson, who saw a well-hit 20-yard strike superbly palmed round the post by Josh Lillis. Despite running Everton so close in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, Barnsley had been well and truly second best here.
Manager Lee Johnson said: “You can have all the excuses in the world, but we just didn’t do enough. Can I write this one off? I don’t think so because there were two or three players who were way off the pace and I’ll be speaking to those involved.
“I just thought we lacked what we’ve normally got. There wasn’t enough energy but you can’t use Wednesday night as an excuse.
“Am I worried? No. I’m just a bit disappointed in a few players for differing reasons.”