McNulty plays down altercation with fan

ROCHDALE’S Jim McNulty insists his altercation with a home fan during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Plymouth was ‘something and nothing.’

The incident occurred after McNulty (an unused sub on the night) was passing on an instruction from manager Keith Hill, which for some reason irked a Dale supporter.

“It was not much to write home about if I’m being honest,” he said.

“I got called a couple of names which I couldn’t work out considering I was being spoken to by a home fan, but I’m sure his heart was in the right place. He wants us to win, I want us to win, it was something and nothing.

“That was no reflection on how this place has been for the last 20 games. Each fan, each player, each staff member has been pulling in the right direction, and if we don’t continue to do that we won’t get out.”

Despite not playing in Tuesday’s draw, McNulty supported his team-mates from the touchline throughout the game.

“There are different plans for different games and whether I’m the player sacrificed or whoever else it may be, it’s about taking your turn to do the right thing on the sideline and supporting from there because it’s a squad game.

“The gaffer sat down and told me I wouldn’t be playing and what the plan was. I fully agreed with it, I think he chose the right players. The plan was right as it has been almost every game, I believed in it and I went with it.”

The point moved Rochdale out of the relegation zone for the first time in four months, but the 33-year-old said the team must stay focused ahead of today’s trip to Oxford.

“I always feel the game after achieving something is the key one. When you finally take a breath because you’ve got your head above water in the relegation zone it’s about the game after.”

The result means Dale’s battle against the drop will go to the final day of the season. Hill’s men are currently 19th in the table, with only goal difference separating them from Walsall and Oldham.