Keith Hill says key moments in games are costing his Rochdale side after their 3-2 defeat at home to Chesterfield.
Jay O’Shea fired the visitors into a half-time lead before Ian Henderson’s reply, only for Lee Novak and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake to strike late on for the Spireites before Rhys Bennett’s late consolation for the hosts.
The defeat means Dale haven’t recorded back-to-back victories since the opening two games of the campaign but Hill is sure his side are close to finding some consistency.
“It’s small margins, it’s moments in games, it’s moments in seasons and moments in life that change the outcome of whatever even you’re taking part in,” said Hill.
“The players’ heads could have gone but they didn’t, which I’m really pleased about and I feel as though we’ve been quite secure defensively.”
“It was too open for me. I never felt comfortable. I thought we were very, very lucky to come in at half time 1-0 down just because of the way the game went in the first half.
“I thought they [Chesterfield] grew into the game after we started exceptionally well and I was relatively pleased to get to half-time only 1-0 down.”
“I think we should have defended their second and third goals better but I never felt comfortable against the opposition in that game.”
Hill also had a word for the club’s ground-staff who managed to get the game on despite torrential rain overnight and in the morning.
“I’m really pleased with the pitch and the performance of the pitch, and it’ll be good for next week,” Hill added.
“The ground-staff are working incredibly hard but the football club are also providing the tools to make sure we have a good working surface and it’s really good at this moment in time.”
Dale fans will be hoping their side can bounce back this Saturday when they entertain Fleetwood Town at Spotland.
Image courtesy of Rochdale via YouTube, with thanks.
