Dale boss hits out at 'lack of common sense' in fixture list

Photo: Alan Ryder

Keith Hill.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill has highlighted what he termed a 'lack of common sense' in the fixture list ahead of Dale's long trip to Barnet tomorrow night.

Hill's men travel to north London for tomorrow night's game before making the much shorter trip to rivals Bury this Saturday and Hill thinks that the fixtures should have been swapped round.

"We have played Gillingham and Barnet away on Tuesday nights - why can't we play Bury away on a Tuesday night and then play Barnet on a Saturday? Somebody with a bit of common sense would look at the fixture list and think 'ok, we will rotate that fixture and play it on a Saturday and put Bury on a Tuesday'. That would make sense for everybody; the supporters, the players, everybody. It is beyond me that no-one has any common sense anymore."

Like every game between now and the end of the season, the Barnet game is a crucial one in Dale's promotion push. Saturday's win over Grimsby moved Dale up to second in the league and victory tomorrow night could see them create a bit of daylight in front of the chasing pack.

While Dale travel to the struggling Bees, Wycombe and Bury, who are third and fourth respectively, have home fixtures against Chester and Chesterfield.

Keith Hill knows that while his side are in a fantastic position at the moment, nothing is decided in March. "We've got to make sure we turn the great foundation we have got so far this season into ultimate success," he said. "To do that we have probably got to win seven or eight games."

Anyone who can not attend tomorrow night's game at Barnet is invited to listen to live commentary of the game in the Ratcliffe Suite at Spotland, courtesy of Rochdale Supporters Trust. The event is free for Trust members or £3 for non-members and free food will be served.

Be sure to visit Rochdale Online for half time and full time match reports posted direct from the game at Underhill.