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Archived News from December 2003

CURLE AND ALAN BUCKLEY REACTION
27th December 2003 0:35


Colin is one of the best finishers in the lower divisions and in games like that it sometimes takes a wonder goal or an error to settle it. Rochdale made the mistake and Colin has scored a vital goal. Good teams can win 1-0 and although it was not the prettiest, our display was professional, and the desire and commitment were there. Larks has been out of the team, but he needs that opportunity and he's come in today and scored a vital goal for us. His linking up play with Junior was good at times, as and when we were allowed to play.

Today summed up what I've been saying all season. We had four key players out injured but I have belief in the strength of my squad. Everyone knows the standard required and those that came in gave a great account of themselves.

Dave Artell's got a slight hamstring strain, a reaction after the Hull game. Liam was in training on Wednesday and he felt a slight strain in his hamstring. He was pleading with me to play him, but what I said to him was I can't afford to lose you for 5 to 6 weeks; I know you're desperate to play but erring on the side of caution I decided to rest him. It was purely my decision today, I know that I need Liam with a busy period that we've got now; we've got some important games coming up. I knew that we had enough strength in depth that I could put a team out there that I was confident would do well.
I'm hoping Neil should be training with 2-3 weeks, Iyseden will be available within a week, Dave Artell again a week to 10 days.

Tony Vaughan is suffering with a slight injury to his ribs and his ankle. We'll assess it tomorrow and see if he's available for selection on Sunday.

Macclesfield will be another tough game for us. But it's not as if they've had a day off. They're exactly the same as us having had a game today.

Transcribed by Martin Shaw
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Rochdale manager Alan Buckley :

"We looked a very accomplished team today, we knew what we were about, covered each other well and played some good football. They have scored a lot of goals this season and limited them to next to nothing.

"We didn't make enough of our ball into the box as we should have done, but performance alone I was delighted.

"We have lost a lot of games 1-0 despite being the better side at times. We were the better side today against Mansfield for long periods and I've said it before over a number of weeks that someone will make a stupid mistake and it will cost us and did today.

"I've just said to Neil Edwards in the dressing room that despite his superb double save he's had nothing to do really. He's had a quiet afternoon with hardly any crosses coming over and that's against a team that's scored about 48 goals this season.

"It showed how well we defended and the whole functioning of the team pleased me today."

 

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