Hill critical of defensive visitors

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Keith Hill

Rochdale manager Keith Hill has hit out at visiting teams that come to Spotland to try and thwart his side rather than playing attractive attacking football.

Dale were frustrated against Wycombe earlier this month, when a strong defensive display from the Chairboys allowed them to steal a 1-0 win. It was almost a similar story on Saturday against Chesterfield, with Dale not looking like scoring until Will Buckley's freak goal opened the scoring and then Tom Kennedy struck a stunning free kick to win the game in stoppage time.

Hill said: "I cannot stress enough how upset I am with the way that teams are becoming very negative when they play away from home and try to park the bus in front of the goal and nick a win. It is creating a lot of negativity for the home supporters because ultimately supporters pay to watch football. We want to play football and there is, I suppose, more than one way to do it but I do not like the negative approach where you have 10 men behind the ball.

"Unfortunately football has its negative elements and I feel as though a lot of sides are going to go away from home and be negative trying to heap pressure on the home side. To be fair I think that "Richo" and his staff watched the way that Wycombe came here. As the game grew though I would say that Chesterfield played a lot more football than Wycombe and probably deserved something out of the game."

The Dale boss admitted that his side had an off day and were fortunate to pick up their second win of the season, likening the result to that which they picked up at home against MK Dons last season, when two goals in injury time saw Dale record a 3-2 win.

"If I am being honest I was more happy with the performance, spirit and collective effort last week in the game that we didn't win against Rotherham," said Hill. "I don't think that we were anywhere near our best but fortune favours the brave and I think that we got our rewards for the collective efforts of the whole season so far. On other occasions we have deserved more than we have actually got and perhaps today was pay back time for all the efforts that were put into the previous six games."

Chesterfield looked to have grabbed a deserved point when Jamie Ward's freekick was spilled into the net by Dale goalkeeper Sam Russell, but his manager had nothing but praise for his stopper after he made a string of fine saves earlier in the game.

"Sam Russell was superb and kept us in the game if I am being honest," Hill continued. "I think that Will's goal was possibly a cross that ended up in the top corner and Chesterfield were very hard to break down. There is a little bit of apprehension and a lack of confidence, at times, in the players when it comes to seeing a lead through.

"Today we got a bit of luck but you have to give Tom Kennedy credit for what was an outstanding free kick. Tom has kept trying on the free kicks and God loves a trier. I love a trier who is capable and Tom proved capable on the day so he deserves the accolades."

The Dale boss also singled out Rory McArdle after another fine defensive performance, recovering after his own goal at Rotherham last weekend helped them back into the game. Hill said: "I saw Rory McArdle lead by example again. He never goes hiding and is always accountable for whatever decisions he makes. He is only 21 years of age and he is outstanding and is going to be a real leader throughout the course of his career."