Rochdale assistant manager Chris Beech says his side – as well as referees – need to improve after their 3-0 defeat to Chesterfield in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday.
Officials disallowed Ian Henderson’s second-half strike when the forward appeared onside and Keith Hill’s number two was adamant the goal should have stood.
“We’ve looked at the video evidence (and) even if our player played the ball we’re not in an offside position,” Beech told The Dale Player.
“But we didn’t actually play the ball it came off a defending foot. Although we weren’t at our best I would like to think referees appraise themselves in their performance.
“I like to think they (the officials) look at the game and try to be better in the future for that as we do as coaches and as we do as players.”
Prior to the cup tie Dale manager Hill had promised changes and was as good as his word with Javan Vidal, Matty Done and Gary Dicker coming into an new-look 3-2-4-1 formation.
The experiment did not work with two goals from Spireites forward Ollie Banks either side of an Armand Gnanduillet strike sending Dale crashing out of the competition and Chesterfield ino the semi-finals.
A disappointed Beech claimed the defeat is all part of the team’s learning curve.
“I wouldn’t say draw a line under it I’d say learn from it. We’re always looking to improve, the players understand why it didn’t go our taking the officials out of the equation,” added
“We know we can pass the ball better than that. We went longer than we normally do too early and we weren’t doing what we know we can do.
“Off the ball we want to see that honesty and intensity that we do represent but we didn’t do that to the amount we would’ve liked.”
Next Saturday’s opposing manager, Jim Bentley of Morecambe, watched Dale’s defeat from the stands and probably fancy his side’s chances though Beech is hoping for a positive response.
“Morecambe are having a great season so I’m sure they’ll look to that as a game they think they can win,” he said.
“We’re just looking for that natural reaction, that professional reaction and a bit more ruthless behaviour, intensity and honesty from the boys.
“They’ve been excellent but we didn’t represent our standards (against Chesterfield).”
Image courtesy of Official Rochdale via YouTube, with thanks.