Rochdale boss Keith Hill has urged his players to take a leap of faith in their remaining League One fixtures after their 1-1 draw away at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
Ian Henderson registered his 19th goal of the season when he headed in Michael Rose’s cross just before the hour mark, cancelling out Kyle Bennett’s 17th minute strike.
The Dale manager was frustrated by his side’s poor first-half performance, and has encouraged his charges to fully commit to his game plan for the last five matches of the campaign.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Hill said: “We have to take our game to the opposition. It’s no good playing when you’re one-nil down.
“We can’t wait and see – waiters work in restaurants, I’ve always said that – and we can’t wait and see what the opposition are going to offer up. We’ve got to make sure we take a leap of faith.
“I thought we rallied well second half. Dominated possession, enforced our game and style on the opposition and probably should have scored more than one goal.”
Rochdale had two strong penalty appeals turned down, and Peter Vincenti almost stole all three points for the visitors when his volley rattled the post late on.
Dale remain seventh, four points behind Chesterfield with a game in hand, after the Spireites drew 1-1 at Barnsley.
However, Hill’s team did extend their lead over the chasing pack with Fleetwood Town, Bradford City and Peterborough United all losing.
Despite expressing anger at some of the officiating, the Dale boss praised his outfit for adapting to requirements, highlighting Rose’s deployment at left back as an example.
“I wasn’t getting what I wanted. I did have to change it around, but I want results and there have to be sacrifices,” he said.
“Unfortunately you have to make sacrifices when you’re trying to achieve anything and I had to play players probably where they don’t want to play.
“But we responded well and I am really, really pleased with the way we played in the second half.”
Rochdale host Swindon Town on Tuesday night before travelling to Gillingham next Saturday as the League One season enters its final stages.
Main image courtesy of Official Rochdale AFC via YouTube, with thanks.
