Frustrating end to away day run
ROCHDALE manager Jim Bentley admitted to feeling frustrated as his side’s unbeaten run of form on the road came to an end at Walsall at the weekend.
The Saddlers won 1-0 at the Bescot thanks to Hayden White’s 35th minute goal.
Having picked up seven points from nine in their previous three away games, it was a blow to Dale, who remained outside the relegation zone by virtue of superior goal difference over Hartlepool United.
Bentley said: “When I first came to the club you’re a little bit worried and you’re looking and thinking mentality etc, but we come away frustrated.
“We’re away from home again, and we come into our fourth game away from home trying to stay unbeaten and I think we gave a really good account of ourselves, certainly in the second half, but we’ve lost the game and and we can’t keep saying that, something has got to change.
“We’ve certainly got to deal with the long throw better and we’ve certainly, when we’re going the other way, pick out that final killer pass or hit the target or get the ball in the back of the net somehow. So, as I say, I’m frustrated. I’m pleased with quite a bit of our play and I’m disappointed with bits of it as well, but I think when you look at our fans who were superb again, their reaction at the final whistle and how they clapped our players off, that was true support and I think it was reflected and appreciated with regards to what the players gave.
“It’s a difficult place to come again like Tuesday [at Tranmere]. They are one of the form sides in the league.
“We go through strengths and weakness and how we can counteract those things that are going to come our way, like the set-plays, like the long throw and where we can hurt them going the other way. I think we carried that out, certainly in the second half.
“The first half just lacked that little ball to get us through on the counter-attack. We worked on switches of play and trying to get doubled up down the sides against the wingback.
“You’re coming to the game three unbeaten away from home. Preparation wasn’t ideal as the coach was stuck in traffic and couldn’t get here and the game gets delayed so it’s rush job etc.
“But Walsall started off well from kick-off and had a big shout for a penalty and I think we warmed into the game.
“We did okay, but I’m really disappointed with the goal.
“I pride myself on being real strong and robust which we have been showing of late.
“I think we’ve defended really well at times, certainly over the last few weeks, and it just looked a little bit too easy for me, and that hurts me, because we’ve gone through that with regards to the long throw, and if we’re not going to win the first phase who’s going to win the second ball, the third ball and the fourth ball.
“It’s bouncing around our box and you’re thinking ‘come on, somebody deal with it’, but you find yourself 1-0 down and that’s the killer because that’s ultimately the goal that’s done us.
“We touched on a few things at half-time and came out in the second half again and were the better side in the second half.
“We created opportunities without really testing the goalkeeper.
“We should be testing the goalkeeper more, but it’s just that final little bit. I think if you come away to a team like this who are in good form - I know Michael Flynn well, I know how his teams work - they’re efficient, they’re strong and they’re good on set-plays. Newport were always the same they back a lot of things up, they get onto second balls, but we fought fire with fire.
“Again, certainly we could do a little bit better with the first and second phases, but again, that’s respect to the team that you’re playing against.”