Dozy Dale leave Hill blasting defenders
KEITH Hill criticised his side’s ‘car crash’ defending as Rochdale suffered their fourth defeat of the season and slipped into the League One relegation zone.
Ryan Seager netted his first goal of the season for MK seven minutes from time to secure the Dons’ second home win of the season as they prepare to face rivals AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow on Friday night.
Dale had led through Brad Inman early on, but two goals from MK’s Gboly Ariyibi either side of Matt Done’s effort for the visitors saw the tie enter the latter stages at 2-2, when Seager smashed home the winner.
“We took the lead and looked in control, but we became chaotic in our play,” said Rochdale boss Hill.
“The lads have got to think clearly, they’ve got to have intelligent energy.
“The first goal is an absolute car crash, we’re just not putting it together it’s as simple as that.
“Defensively we were shocking, but offensively it looked like we could have scored more – there’s individual mistakes and collective mistakes going on.
“There is an organisation and a strategy in place before the game, but if we don’t execute it then we’re not going to get anywhere.”
The visitors wasted no time netting the opener after just eight minutes with Inman’s powerful left-footed strike flying in.
Robbie Neilson’s side levelled less than five minutes later through Ariyibi, who was allowed the time to fire a powerful right-footed effort past Dale stopper Brendan Moore.
And MK’s Ariyibi bagged his second of the game with a long-range effort on 41 minutes, before Hill’s side made it 2-2 just a minute later after Done’s close-range finish.
And Seager found himself in space on the edge of the visitors’ box seven minutes from time before finding the top corner with a powerful drive to net the winner for the hosts.
“I thought both teams played well and tried to play some football,” said Dons boss Neilson. “Thankfully Ryan Seager has come on in the end and won us the game.
“Once we scored the goal we were dominant and allowed them a cheap goal – but we’ve got the three points so we move on and look forward to the big game on Friday.
“We played well at times, there’s still more to come from the players – but we’re making good progress together as a team.
“It’s a massive game for us on Friday night and we’re looking forward to going down there and trying to get the three points.”