Keith Hill insists his Rochdale side must wise up to opposition tactics following Saturday’s 2-1 victory at home to Scunthorpe.
Peter Vincenti’s late strike secured the three points for the Dale after Scunthorpe defender Murray Wallace had cancelled out Joe Bunney’s opener.
Despite the victory, Hill didn’t feel his team had learnt the lessons of last week’s 1-0 loss at Burton Albion.
“We fell into the trap in the first half like we did in the Burton game.
“Everybody at the football club is going to have to be patient, because we’re being given a large amount of respect. But being patient doesn’t mean slow.
“We played very slow in the first half, predictably so. Scunthorpe got bodies in the box and started brightly on the counter-attack.
“It was obvious they were trying to pull our pants down and almost steal the game from us. The players got away with it today.”
The win moves Dale up to fifth in the League One ladder, four points adrift of pace setters Burton.
Despite being disappointed to concede from a set piece, Hill’s miserly defence maintain their record as the joint best in the league (with Walsall), conceding just five league goals.
Man of the moment Peter Vincenti praised the character of his teammates after netting his third goal in four games.
“It’s nice to get the winner and to get on the score-sheet, but of course getting the three points was the most important thing.
“We got the goal, they got it back and then the boys showed character to go again and get the winner.
“We held on in the end and it’s difficult when you’re holding onto a lead because it’s inevitable that you’re going to drop and they’re going to throw everything forward, but I thought we held out well today.”
Vincenti’s manager was similarly overjoyed to see the midfielder find the back of the net five minutes from time.
“It was a super strike.
“It’s a good winning goal for us and it makes what has been a really good and encouraging start, a satisfying start with respect to points on the board.”
Hill will be hoping his side can continue their strong start with back to back wins on Saturday as Dale travel to The Den to face Millwall.
Image courtesy of OfficialRochdaleAFC, via YouTube, with thanks.
