Bentley: I’m angry and embarrassed
JIM Bentley insisted his Rochdale side must move on quickly from Saturday’s humiliating 4-1 home defeat against Harrogate Town.
Despite the teams starting the day just one point apart in the League Two table, the Yorkshiremen proved deserved winners.
James Ball’s eighth minute opener proved a false dawn for Dale, Harrogate having had two good chances to score before the home side netted just seven minutes in.
A long-range effort from George Thomson ensured the sides went in level at the break and after half time there was only one team in it.
Luke Armstrong netted a double on 53 and 57 minutes before Sam Folarin wrapped up the result with a fourth in the 70th minute.
“I’m extremely disappointed,” said Bentley.
“I didn’t see it coming. It’s a drubbing at home – I feel a bit embarrassed if I’m perfectly honest.
“We’ve done some good stuff, got ourselves away from the bottom of the league and we’re thinking it’s time to kick on.
“I’ve labelled us a nearly team in recent weeks because we’ve had games we should have taken something from and we haven’t.
“We’re at home against a team in and around us, and we expect more than that. I didn’t see it coming but I think it reflects where we are at the minute.
“We were thoroughly and deservedly beaten. I don’t think it was a great performance right throughout the game.
“We didn’t start particularly well. Ball retention was poor individually. They started better and we had to warm to the game. We scored from a corner which we were pleased with.
“They played a different shape than we’ve seen recently, and they ran the first half an hour really. We tweaked it slightly and matched them up, we had space down the sides with them playing a diamond, and suddenly we looked a little better.
“We could have gone 2-1 up with Ibbi’s [Abraham Odoh] chance which was well worked. You come in at half-time and we’re ultra-positive. We’ve stemmed the flow with regards to the having the ball and us being pulled around a little.
“In the second-half, we didn’t start great, didn’t win enough first balls, got bullied a little bit in areas, got run past, got brushed off. I’m embarrassed, angry, disappointed. I feel sorry for the fans because that shouldn’t happen at home. We have to take this on the chin. We’ve got to pick the bones out of it, try to get better, and try to win the next game. We’ve got to move on quickly.”