Rochdale FC

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Hill pleads with doubting Rochdale fans

Richard Partington

February 08, 2010

Chris O'Grady's first-half strike and an own-goal by Mark Tootle handed the League Two leaders their ninth win from the last 13 games and provided the ideal response to any doubters questioning Dale's staying power.

"It was really important for us to get back to winning ways, otherwise people would have been asking questions and the supporters would have been saying `here we go again,'" said Dale boss Keith Hill referring to last week's 1-0 defeat by neighbours Bury.

"We don't have a game now for two weeks, so we can't affect what other teams are doing, we can only affect things when we play.

"There is no fear from this team and there is no fear from myself. The only fear right now is a little bit of impatience from our supporters."

Hill said Dale's record stands up to scrutiny and insisted one defeat should not set alarm bells ringing.

"We've scored 60 goals in 29 games which is testament to the players, and we kept a clean sheet which was equally as pleasing, because that's ten clean sheets for the season," he said.

"We're really pleased with the way things are going and people should not be questioning us, people can ask us questions after 46 games. I'll be on holiday by then because I'm sure our season will be over by the start of May."

O'Grady missed a sitter in the derby defeat last time out but made amends after just eight minutes. Crewe goalkeeper Steve Phillips parried Chris Dagnall's angled drive into O'Grady's path and the former Oldham hitman brought the ball under control before smashing his 16th goal of the campaign into the net.

Crewe's claims for a penalty were waved away when Scott Wiseman appeared to foul Byron Moore midway through the first half, but Dale were good value for their half-time lead.

Phillips pulled off impressive saves from O'Grady and Dagnall, but the game was up for Dario Gradi's team seconds after the interval when Tootle diverted O'Grady's shot into his own net.

ROCHDALE: Fielding 7, Wiseman 7, Dawson 7, Stanton 6 (McArdle, 39, 7), T Kennedy 7, Atkinson 7, Taylor 8, Jones 7, Obadeyi 6 (Higginbotham, 60 7), O'Grady 7, Dagnall 7.

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Edski - nobody has "turned on the club". Your comments make things worse.

The fans that turn up each week know that this is a good side and do not doubt the ability of Hillcroft to get us promoted after all this time.

MPs gravy train, UK
12/02/2010 at 13:55

I must admit I was frustrated by the Bury defeat...it was agame that could have gone either way and should really have been 3 points to the dale. The most frustrating part was that dale had drew two games and won once prior to that. The fans were feeling that with GOOD strong sides around us like Rotherham and Notts Co who have games in hand - that if they win they will be within 2 points of Dale so there was a fear they were hitting a run of bad form.

Come the end of the season a sixth place finish would be a testament to the management given the lack f resources the club have and the years of bad quality football. It was unfair for people to turn on the club - I think that because of how close the club has come to promotion in the past two seasons.... there are lingering doubts that it is never meant to be.

I remeber the 1997 FA Cup 3rd round clash at Liverpool that Dale lost 7-0. On the way to the game a mate who had supported the club for a long time told me that Dale always do badly over the winter period .... and fr the next 10+ years that was the case. The winter form of this side is excellent in comparison and since Hillcroft have been in charge the club always has a good late push at the end of the season.

Dale should be ok!