Hill hails ‘honest’ Rochdale display as problems mount for struggling Bradford

Rochdale manager Keith Hill believes his side were fully deserving of the three points against Bradford after producing what he described as their “most honest” performance in a long time.

Ian Henderson’s two late penalties earned Dale a 2-0 win at Valley Parade that condemned Bradford to their 10th League One defeat of the season.

The result dropped City into the bottom two of the division and left some home supporters calling for the resignation of chairman Edin Rahic.

For Rochdale, the win ended a run of five matches without a victory and Hill said it was “probably the most honest performance that we have had for a long time”.

He added: “I believe the team performance deserved three points.

“You want your team to represent the values that you train to, that you try to teach and I think that is what we did today. Our energy was superb along with , our commitment in front of goal.

“We nullified Bradford in the first half except for one goalmouth scramble when we did really well to preserve our goal. The referee made the right decisions for both penalties.”

Hill also had a special word of praise for goalkeeper Brendan Moore, making his first start in the league since last season.

He said: “Brendan has made two tremendous saves. That is what keepers do, they win matches. Everyone says strikers win matches, but it is goalkeepers who win matches. He has worked exceptionally hard and he deserves to stay in the side after that performance.”

Rochdale went in front in the 83rd minute when Lewis O’Brien gave the ball away on the edge of the penalty area and Bradford skipper Anthony O’Connor brought down Henderson, who scored from the spot.

Their second came in stoppage time when O’Brien’s back pass was intercepted by Stephen Dooley, who was brought down by goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell and again Henderson put the penalty away.

Striker George Miller came closest to scoring for Bradford. He saw Henderson clear his shot off the line in the 41st minute before being denied three times by Moore in the second half.

This was a sixth defeat in eight games for David Hopkin since he took over as Bradford head coach and his side’s injury problems were made worse when right-back Kelvin Mellor was carried off on a stretcher in the first half with a broken bone in his foot.

Hill criticised the ‘negative attitude’ in the stadium which he believed helped the visitors, but Hopkin said: “The fans have every right to be frustrated. They want us to win football matches, but every mistake we make we get punished for.

“We are not getting torn apart, but if you keep making mistakes and give teams opportunities it becomes difficult.

“I don’t think there was much in the game, but two mistakes (for the penalties) have cost us.

“We are disappointed with the result, but we have another chance with a massive game at home to Coventry on Tuesday.”