Rochdale AFC manager Keith Hill has spoken of his side’s hunger for victories as a major factor in the team’s current success, despite not being one of the most high-profile League One outfits.
Hill’s comments come after Rochdale secured four points from their previous two games to turn around a brief dip in form, drawing 1-1 with Gillingham last weekend and snatching an injury-time winner to beat high-flying Swindon Town 3-2 on Tuesday night.
The Dale continue their busy schedule with a long trip to struggling Yeovil Town on Saturday, with manager Hill hopeful that his side’s energy and desire will continue their drive towards the play-off places.
Speaking to Rochdale’s official club website, the 45-year-old said: “We’re not one of the kings of Savile Row of League One but we will over-achieve, there’s no question about that.
“There’s a massive spirit in that team and a tremendous appetite to be successful.”
Rochdale sit ninth in League One after snatching all three points at the County Ground through Bastien Hery’s late strike.
Hery’s goal capped a magnificent performance from the Dale, coming from a goal down through efforts from Matthew Lund and Peter Vincenti.
The win ended Swindon’s nine-game unbeaten run in the league, demonstrating how Hill’s men have the potential to cause a few upsets against the supposedly bigger clubs in the division.
In the aftermath of the fixture against Swindon, Hill said: “I would have been reasonably happy with a draw but to get three points is a magnificent achievement for the points that we’ve dropped over the last couple of weeks.
“We counter attack superbly and we should have scored more goals.”
Rochdale have made an impressive start to the current campaign, finding themselves only three points outside the play-off places after securing promotion last season – echoing their maiden League One voyage with Hill back in 2010 when they finished ninth.
However, they experienced a frustrating 1-1 draw against Gillingham last Saturday in a game that should have yielded maximum points.
The Dale created numerous chances after Peter Vincenti’s opener but failed to capitalise and were duly punished by a late Cody McDonald strike, providing a harsh lesson on the ruthless nature of the division.
Hill will be keen to ensure that there are no further slip-ups, starting with the fixture against 21st-place Yeovil.
The Huish Park outfit are winless in five, but Rochdale are likely to be without in-form Vincenti who picked up a knee injury in the Swindon victory.
His absence would be a blow for Hill’s side, with the man from Jersey having scored seven goals in all competitions this campaign, including strikes against both Gillingham and Swindon.
Image courtesy of Rochdale AFC via YouTube with thanks
