McNULTY: WE BARELY TRAIN, WE NEED HELP
ROCHDALE manager Jimmy McNulty saluted a super-human effort from his players as they moved back into the play-off places following their home win against bottom club Kidderminster Harriers.
A goal-of-the-season contender from Tyrese Sinclair and strike from club record scorer Ian Henderson provided some welcome cheer for the club against the backdrop of well documented off--field financial difficulties.
Sinclair and Henderson both netted their tenth of the season as injury-hit Dale, who don’t have funds to strengthen their squad, moved into the top seven.
McNulty said: “I have to be mindful of what I am asking the players to do because they are in tough circumstances and it is the same 11 guys who are going out week after week after week. I was never in a spot as tough when I was a player.
“I see the players every single day, trying to lift themselves for every game. At the moment we can barely train. We need help.
“I want the fans to hope and don’t want to kill the players’ hope. I am in awe of what they are doing because they are going over and beyond what I can expect of them.
“Everyone’s expectations will have to reflect the circumstances because I am concerned how players can keep doing it.”
McNulty added they are massively overachieving for what they have available – they only had three substitutes in their previous match, two were academy players. There was particular praise for 38-year-old Henderson who, because of the lack of personnel, is having to lead the line single-handedly.
He continued: “Hendo, my good friend and teammate, the guy who gives us everything, I am killing him, and he scored today.
“He was amazing and shone at the top end of the pitch and found energy he has not had for the last couple of weeks. He, like others, have looked flat and I cannot help them. I cannot flog them.”
McNulty added a spark was needed to ignite a lacklustre game and Sinclair provided that just short of the hour.
The wideman latched on to a flick from Max Taylor, chested the ball down, turned and looped a shot from 25 yards over goalkeeper Christian Dibble.
Dale sealed victory 20 minutes from time when Henderson scored his 146th goal for the club following a move perfected on the training ground.
Ryan East fired over a free-kick to the far post, where Taylor squared a pass across the face of goal for Henderson, sliding in at the far post, to convert from a couple of yards.
Harriers remain bottom with just 20 goals from 28 matches and manager Russ Penn said: “We have been creating a lot more chances than at the start of the season and have looked like scoring, though today was an exception.” STAR MAN: Tyrese Sinclair (Rochdale) ATT: 2,324 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Garreth Rhodes