Rochdale boss Keith Hill wants his side to show no mercy in future after they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday that ended their four game winning streak.
Dale were their own worst enemy as defensive lapses contributed greatly the home side’s first two goals.
Hill said that he has no time for such charity and cited his competitive childhood to highlight how ruthless his team needs to become.
“My household and my upbringing was very competitive. If I was winning at anything my dad would cheat, but it taught me how to become a winner and a fighter,” Hill told The Dale Player.
“We have to do everything to win and we can’t be kind on the opposition.
“My dad wasn’t kind on me when it came to (the) competitive nature of a game of tiddly winks or a game of monopoly, even going as far as the last pieces of bread at the dinner table.
“Even if I was finishing my dinner quickest my dad would snatch the last piece of bread.”
Hill wants Dale to replicate the cruel nature that once infuriated him as a child after seeing his side knocked off the top of the League Two table.
Although the Rochdale manager praised his side’s performance, he hopes the players will put team success ahead of individual glory in future.
“I’m not looking for glory I’m looking for success,” Hill added.
“I think glory belongs to the individual and we’re a team, we’re a we not me, and (on Saturday) we went in search of glory rather than success.
“We played some attractive football and created opportunities but we gifted them the first and second goals.”
After three games in seven days, Keith Hill’s men now have a full week to prepare for AFC Wimbledon’s visit to Spotland next Saturday.
In the meantime Dale can begin plotting an FA Cup run after Sunday’s first round draw handed them an away trip to lowly Torquay United.
Image courtesy of Rochdale Official, with thanks
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