Jim praises opponents
BOSS Jim Bentley said Rochdale were the best side he had seen in League 2 this season after they beat the Shrimps at the Globe Arena on Saturday.
A Mark Hughes own goal and Scott Hogan’s excellent strike gave the visitors a two-goal lead before Shrimps' substitute Padraig Amond pulled a goal back two minutes from time.
Bentley said: “I wanted a response from last week and we made a few changes.
“We came out of the traps well and got amongst them and there wasn’t much in it in the first half and I was pretty pleased at half-time.
“But they’re a good side and deserved to win the game.
“For the first five minutes of the second half it was going to plan but they started to get on top and then it’s all about scoring when you’re on top and we were just about to make a change to try and stem it but unfortunately the goal went in off Hughesy and it took the wind out of our sails.
“They stepped up a level and they’re a good footballing side.
“The second one by Hogan is a great finish, I was a bit disappointed with the build-up, but on today’s evidence they’ll be there or thereabouts this season.
“The lads have given their all and there’s a lot of unhappy players in the dressing room but these things can happen in football.
“You can go eight or nine games unbeaten and then only win one in five so it’s important we stick together.
“The players have had a good go today but I think we just lacked a bit of quality if I’m honest.
“Rochdale are probably the best side we’ve seen here this year.”