Rochdale manager Keith Hill has tipped to Rhys Bennett to recover after the defender endured a torrid afternoon in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Portsmouth.
Bennett was twice out-jumped by Portsmouth’s Bondz N’Gala, who headed in two second half corners, as the hosts ran out easy winners.
However, Hill put a difficult afternoon for Bennett into perspective as the defender and his team-mates have been impressive for the majority of the season.
“It was Rhys Bennett’s responsibility to mark N’Gala, he one of my best markers, he’s been brilliant for me all season in that respect. He’s very sad with respect to making the mistakes but he’ll recover,” Hill told The Dale Player post-match.
“We’re a good side and we’ve got good players and we’re a team but individual responsibilities are key in any game.
“We relieved Portsmouth of all the pressure that was built with respect to the game and the performance they had last week (losing 4-2 at York). I thought Portsmouth were excellent and I thought we were average (it was) no comparison to what I’m used to.
“Can we recover? Without question. Can we go on another run? Definitely. But we can’t make mistakes like that and expect to win any game.”
Dale arrived at Fratton Park having won four in a row, a run that saw Hill named September’s League Two Manager of the Month, last Friday.
But the Rochdale boss fell victim of the infamous jinxing effect the award seems to have, as his side were beaten, slipping to eighth in League Two in the process.
It was Dale’s first meeting with Portsmouth for 33 years and they were backed by 426 travelling fans described by Hill as ‘superb’.
“I hope they keep their enthusiasm and belief and I am sure they will because we are a very good side,” Hill said of the fans.
Hill and the fans will no doubt be hoping for a positive reaction to this defeat when Dale face Port Vale away in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round, on Tuesday.
Image courtesy of official Rochdale via YouTube , with thanks
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
