Dale need to be more ruthless, says Hill

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Keith Hill

Manager Keith Hill has been reflecting on the week as Dale get ready to face Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.

Hill admits it has been a frustrating week after losing to a penalty which should never have been against Plymouth Argyle, but says the defeat has had no negative impact on the players.

He said: “We’re only four games in and we’ve got 42 games go. We’re developing and I’m really pleased with the players that we’ve brought in, the players that we’ve retained and we’ve got to retain the belief in what we’re trying to achieve and the way we’re trying to do it.

“I won’t be a direct style of play manager, I can’t stand percentage direct football and there’s a lot of teams still playing it. I have to trust my players to play the way that I want them to play, but it has to be fruitful, it has to bear dividends and it has to bear points. We can’t be a good footballing team who lose football matches.

“We lost the game against Plymouth because of a wrong decision, it’s as simple as that, and maybe we were a little lacklustre in front of goal with the chances that we did create. We’ve got to be a little bit more ruthless, but other than that I’m really pleased with what we’ve embarked on, the way that we’re going and I won’t change my style for anybody because I believe it goes against all footballing ethics.”

Dale face Oxford United this weekend, a team who have had an unbeaten start to their league season, and Hill is expecting another difficult game on the road.

“It will be a tough a game. They’re a very good side, free scoring and Chris Wilder has done an excellent job there. I’m optimistic going there.”