Rochdale AFC manager Keith Hill bemoaned a lack of killer instinct after his side lost 1-0 to Port Vale on Saturday.
Dale’s five-game unbeaten run was ended thanks to Michael Brown’s second-half strike, pushing them out of the League One play-off places and down to eighth.
However, Hill was pragmatic about the defeat and saw plenty of reasons to be optimistic concerning the remainder of the campaign.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Hill said: “Performance wise, it was very acceptable. We created opportunities, we just didn’t have that killer instinct. We were a little bit slack in front of goal.
“That’s the one thing missing from the performance, the end result, but with respect to the performance, I’m really encouraged.
“It just wasn’t to be today. We can’t beat anybody up; you’ve just got to accept that you’re going to win games, you’re going to lose games and you’re going to draw games.”
Rochdale’s attacking options were stretched heading into the fixture, with suspended skipper Ian Henderson joining long-term absentee Peter Vincenti on the sidelines.
Brown’s goal was enough to separate the two sides in a tight encounter at Vale Park, with Jamie Allen and Calvin Andrew having the best of the chances for the visitors.
Despite ending up on the losing side, goalkeeper Conrad Logan once again impressed for Rochdale, with the 28-year-old’s stunning first-half reflex save from Colin Daniel proving a highlight.
Hill maintained positive about the progression of the club, saying: “Today we’ve tasted defeat, and it’s bitter, but you’ve got to look beyond the end result.
“There’s a lot of encouragement there with respect to us winning games.
“We’ve had performances like that, lost games before, and bounced back and won games comfortably.”
Next up for Rochdale is an FA Cup first round replay against Northampton Town at Spotland Stadium on Tuesday night.
Hill will see the fixture as a perfect opportunity to return to winning ways, and suggested that midfielder Matty Lund will have a significant role to play after returning from international duty.
The Northern Irishman was on the bench against Port Vale, having been in Romania with the international squad on Friday night.
Lund was praised by his manager for wishing to play at the weekend, with Hill admitting to having doubts about including the 23-year-old in the matchday side.
Hill said: “It was a difficult one for me because sometimes they [international players] have a little bit of negative energy because of the amount of travelling that they’ve been doing.
“But I was more than happy to put him on the bench. He’s done everything he possibly can to get here – I commend him for that.”
The victor of Tuesday night’s tie will be faced with an away trip to either Portsmouth or Aldershot Town in the second round on the weekend of December 5.
Rochdale’s next league fixture is at home against Doncaster Rovers next Saturday, with Paul Dickov’s team currently sat 17th in the table.
Main image courtesy of OfficialRochdaleAFC via YouTube, with thanks.
