Duo savouring style with Dale
KAIRO Mitchell and Kyron Gordon have both highlighted their belief in Dale’s way of playing ahead of this afternoon’s home game against Maidenhead United.
Jimmy Mcnulty’s men dominated last weekend’s game at Eastleigh, scoring four goals of real quality, including two from Mitchell as well as one apiece for Devante Rodney and Jimmy Keohane.
Mcnulty commented on the players buying in to what he believes will bring them success, something which both Mitchell and Gordon commented on after the game.
“It’s enjoyable,” said Mitchell.
“You can see the smiles on everyone’s faces and the confidence in the team with the way we performed. We were very dominant, we kept the ball really well and played our style of football, which was good.
“Even though we conceded a goal, which we were very unhappy about, we never felt stressed. We kept playing our stuff and it came good in the end.”
Gordon, who has started every match since he joined on loan from Sheffield United in January, also spoke about the enjoyment of what Dale work on week in, week out.
“If you’re enjoying your football, it means you’re playing well the majority of the time,” he said.
“All the fundamentals and the way the gaffer wants us to play, we put that into practice.
“When we have the ball more than the opposition, we have more chance of scoring! That’s the way we want to play. It maybe hasn’t happened as much in the last few games, but we wanted to get back to that.
“We worked hard on it all week and on Saturday it showed.
“We’ve got quality players, especially in this league, and we had the end product from the attacking players.”
Mitchell added his 13th and 14th goals of the season on Saturday.
He believes if Dale focus on their performances, then results should follow.
“It was a good day at the office – a 4-1 win and a dominant performance. The gaffer speaks a lot about how if we perform well then the results should take care of themselves.
“That’s something we look to do all the time and it may not go right all of the time, but on the day we got the outcome along with the performance.
“We’ve got Maidenhead United next at home, which is a good place for us.
“We have to look at replicating a similar performance [as Eastleigh] and the rest should take care of itself.”
With seven matches of the campaign remaining, Gordon believes that the momentum of seven points from the last three games can help Dale sustain a strong finish.
“We’ve always had confidence,” he said.
“We know we’re good players, it’s just about doing it out on the pitch.
“If you can get a winning run going and the confidence is there, that momentum can carry you through.”
●●DALE’S Youth Team were beaten 2-1 at home to Blackpool in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Saturday.
Dale had beaten their opponents 4-2 away from home just four days earlier and looked to be heading for a double when Brooklyn Bailey put Lee Thorpe’s side ahead in the 26th minute.
However, a penalty from Layton Campbell on the stroke of half-time pulled the Seasiders level.
A draw was on the cards as neither team could pull ahead until the visitors grabbed an 89th minute, with Campbell adding his second of the game.
It means Dale dropped back below the Pool in the table. They take on Morecambe at Platt Lane on Saturday 30th March.