Hill reflects on a positive September

Manager Keith Hill has been reflecting on a positive September which has culminated in him being named as League Two Manager of the Month.

He said: “We went to Oxford [on the last day of August] and we got a deserved draw against the top of the division team. We more than out possessioned a goal scoring side, we allowed them to probably only have three sights on our goal, and we were full of enthusiasm and confidence going into the Bury game.

“The players saw it as an opportunity to start invading the top seven with the run of games that we had.

"We all know that it’s a difficult league and there’s going to be a sequence of games where it’s going to be difficult, but I believe we’ve got the squad to make an impact on this league this season.

“I think the points that we’ve got from the nine games is where we should be. I still believe that we should have another two points, but I’m relatively pleased with the points ratio.

“We’re winning games and for a massive percentage of the games we’ve been very good, but I don’t think we’ve had a complete 90 minutes performance just yet. Obviously because we’ve had three sendings off as well. And to be honest, against Accrington Stanley and against Wycombe last weekend, we probably allowed the opposition back into the game.”

Hill also gave his thoughts on the weekend’s trip to Fratton Park.

“We’re not playing tradition, we’re not playing history, we’re playing a Portsmouth team that are now in League Two. Yes warranted and granted they’re at least a Championship club and they’ve been a member of the Premier League, but they’ve fallen on hard times.

“This season in particular they’re having to deal with League Two football as a football league club and as a team on the pitch.

"It can be an advantage to teams like Rochdale going to Fratton Park in front of 16/17,000 supporters as it probably has been for a lot of teams who have played there this season.”