BUNNEY IS BUOYANT, WHILE HURST’S BLOOD BOILS OVER
THIS year has been one of transformation for Joe Bunney but the newly-converted full-back is confident Rochdale are only going one way – up.
Dale made it ten wins on the bounce at home as early strikes from Ian Henderson and Steven Davies set them up for success against struggling Shrewsbury.
Bunney, a livewire throug has out, has earned rave reviews after making the unlikely switch from a striker to full-back, but the 23-year-old revealed he was only too happy to listen to boss Keith Hill’s wisdom.
think I struggled when I was up front receiving the ball with my back to goal,” he said.
“But I feel like my back-up play from behind the ball is good and I’m enjoying providing goals well as trying to score them. I’ve been here for four years now and the club just keeps progressing and progressing.
“It’s a snowball effect, we’re all buying into the gaffer’s philoso “I
phy and it’s getting us to where we are now.
“If we pick up our away form I’m sure we’ll be challenging at the end of the season.
“I’m happy to play wherever; I always give it my all. I played well against Fleetwood and then Bolton and I’m taking it in my stride now.”
The Shrews nearly took a shock early lead, but Conrad Logan made a fine stop from Shaun Whalley while one-on-choose one. Disaster struck at the other end moments later as Mat Sadler’s attempted pass from the back rebounded off Davies, and the deflection released Henderson to supply a clinical finish.
But the second arrived in controversial circumstances, as Shrews keeper Jayson Leutwiler appeared to have the ball in his grasp only for Henderson to prise the ball out and set up Davies for a tap-in.
Fuming Shrews boss Paul Hurst, who also claimed Davies was offside, said:” I have to say it’s absolute incompetence – it’s not even close to being onside.
“They say ‘it’s alright’. I don’t know if they realise that it’s peoples’ livelihoods at stake.
“You get the answers back that ‘I’ll explain’ there’s nothing to explain!
“There are three reasons why it could be not given and they to ignore them.” Dale remained in control for much of the match and Ivan Toney’s effort five minutes from time was too little, too late for the away side. “Arguably within that first five minutes, everything we spoke about- strengths, weaknesses – they all came to the fore,” added Hurst. “To say I am disappointed would be an understatement.”