'We've got to stomach it' - Keith Hill on two points dropped

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Adams takes on Stuart Drummond during last night's game.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill was naturally disappointed that his side conceded an injury time equaliser against Morecambe last night but believes his side will stomach the upset.

Dale were heading for a fifth successive victory courtesy of Will Buckley's second half strike but late Morecambe pressure ultimately told when Michael Twiss turned free in the box to the unreserved joy of his team mates.

"We've got to stomach it and we will but we've got to make sure we don't put too much pressure on our team," said Hill after the game.

"It's two points dropped and to concede so late on is disappointing. It feels as though we have lost the game but we haven't and that is part of the rollercoaster ride that happens when you are competing at the top."

Dale now face two tough fixtures against fellow promotion chasers Brentford and Darlington and the manager is determined that last night's set back will not get his team down.

"I don't think we were as we should be in the last five minutes with the ball and that encouraged them to keep pushing the ball forward into our area," he said. "I thought we defended it quite well and it is a bit of a lucky goal; it is helped back into the box and a late runner comes through after the goalkeeper had pushed up; it's just one of those things. We all accept it but we won't get down about it. We are unbeaten again and there is still plenty to play for; 16 games."

Despite the late equaliser, Hill believes that his side's brand of football can set them on another winning run.

"I'm really pleased with the way the lads are performing and if we keep playing like that we will definitely score more goals and win more football matches.

"Without any disrespect to Morecambe, they are playing pretty much pressure free. They are in mid-table and they have not really got a view to going up and they have got no chance of going down and they can afford to possibly lose games by going to try and get something out of them and I think that's what occurred tonight.

"I think we played some super football for large periods of the game but it didn't materialise into other goals and if it had done I think we would have won comfortably. Morecambe are a good side and at the end of they game they pressured for an equaliser and they got one."