Hill: Dale still have plenty to offer fans

KEITH Hill tipped his cap to a fluid Rochdale performance after they secured their eighth successive home victory in all competitions, beating a Swindon side lacking in quality.

Substitute Steven Davies came off the bench to net twice after Joe Bunney and Matt Lund had given the hosts the advantage, and only goal difference now separates Dale from a play-off place.

And manager Keith Hill is confident there is plenty more to come from his men.

“Swindon are a decent side. If the chance they had early-on had gone in, it would have been a totally different game,” he said.

“But we upped the ante in the secondhalf and it paid dividends. We’re playing well, as individuals and as a team, and I am confident there is more to come from these lads.

“Our play was very fluid. Joe Thompson did not get on the scoresheet but I thought he was fantastic. His support play was particularly outstanding. There is great balance in the team and great spirit. We stabilised whilst we rode-out suspensions and injuries and because we have a squad in good form we were able to get through that period.

“We have players like Ian Henderson coming back and I can see us progressing.”

Rochdale had the upper-hand in an entertaining first-half and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing missed a glorious opportunity, volleying wide after good work on the left by Joe Rafferty and Joe Thompson.

But the home side took a deserved lead when Bunney’s header at the far post found the far corner of the net following Callum Camps’ cross from the right.

Ten minutes after the break the home side doubled their advantage when Lund fired home from close range.

Swindon were looking nervous and struggled to bring any cohesion to their play. Rochdale dominated and increased their lead when Davies’ header was well saved by Lawrence Vigouroux, only for the Dale substitute to pounce on the rebound.

And on 66 minutes Davies was brought down by Lloyd Jones, elected to take the spotkick himself and sent Vigouroux the wrongway to end the contest.

“I thought if we got to half-time goalless we would be OK,” said Swindon head coach Luke Williams.

“But we fell apart in the second period.

“We are not a bad side but have too many players who are not in good form.

“It’s our job to put that right and we will.”