‘Dale can get even better’ insists Jim
ROCHDALE produced one of their most impressive performances of the National League season so far in beating Altrincham 3-0 in midweek – but boss Jim Mcnulty insists they can get even better.
Dale made it back-toback wins on home soild as they followed up last Saturday’s 2-1 victory agaoinst Aldershot with a ruthless display in seeing off the Robins.
Ryan East scored a brace with a goal in each half before Kairo Mitchell netted his tenth of the season.
And ahead of this weekend’s trip to Dagenham & Redbridge, Mcnulty insisted the squad would remain grounded and keep pushing for improvement.
“While it’s important that we don’t get too low from losses, it’s important that we also be humble with our wins,” he said.
“Enjoy them and be happy about them but also know we just have to keep working because I believe we can play even better.
“I thought it was a ruthless and committed performance, I thought it was outstanding for the first 25 minutes and then after that I honestly believe we can play better.
“I don’t think we played bad at all, we handled the opposition really well and we were ruthless when we needed to be.
“Wins always produce vibrancy on the training ground and although we believe in ourselves in everything we do, the wins obviously support that.”
Mcnulty was delighted with the result against a highly-fancied Altrincham side.
“I’m pleased for the team again, I’m pleased for the fans, I’m pleased for us all at the football club,” said Mcnulty.
“It’s a good win against a good team, who are making serious moves in this league. I thought they showed, in parts, what a good team they are.
“Credit to them. It certainly wasn’t an easy victory at all.”
Goalkeeper Louie Moulden saved a Chris
Conn-clarke penalty with the score at 1-0 and Mcnulty described his intervention as ‘crucial’.
“The clean sheet is a big bonus. Big credit to Louie Moulden for saving a penalty for us at a crucial moment in the game,” he said.
“Up until that point, I thought we were playing amazing, certainly up until 1-0.
“We were playing some red hot stuff. We were great to watch, and I enjoyed watching us. I was a Rochdale fan essentially. The boys were playing brilliantly.
“But that was a massive save from Louie. These things define games. They change games. You saw the way that the boys celebrated that save there, that was really big. Ultimately, that gave us the strength to go on. I thought for how good Altrincham were and have been this season, I can see all that, but I thought that we did a great job at nullifying them down to very few moments.
“It was a pretty ruthless performance from us.”
Kairo Mitchell has now scored eight goals in his last 12 games.
Mcnulty is delighted for the forward, and praised Dale’s number nine for hitting double figures for the season.
“I love him [Kairo Mitchell]. I love him if he doesn’t score because I was a defender, and anyone who does that much for the team, I can’t help but fall in love with them.
“I’m really pleased for Kairo to get his ten goals because, again, despite the fact that I love what he does for the team, I know how much goals mean to strikers.
“I know how that makes them feel.
“And it’s great to hear the fans singing his name. He deserves it.
“I do hear his name mentioned quite a lot from our other players when they come on here and do their interviews. They’re often paying credit to each other, and I’ve heard a few of them paying credit to Kairo.
“I think as a teammate, you appreciate what he does. It’s nice for some recognition in return in that regard, in terms of what all strikers love, and that’s goals.
“Ten goals right now at this stage in the season is certainly something to be proud of.”