Following Rovers’ convincing 3-0 win over Rochdale, Tony Mowbray spoke to the club’s media team regarding the game and how he believed his team played. Mowbray was also quick to praise the 3,000-odd fans that travelled down to Rochdale in order to support the players.
“It was hard work that won us the game. The score doesn’t reflect the game in that it was an easy performance, it was a really hard ground out performance and then we scored some goals in the 2nd half which made it easy for us and at the end we could have scored a few more, particularly when Dack and Chapman came on, who were a threat on the counter attack, however the leg work that the players who started the game like Samuel, Antonsson, Conway & Bennett put in to help this team is frightening. It was a game that we dare not lose to be honest with so many fans here and yet the work ethic was there, driven by the supporters.
“The early goal took a bit of pressure off of us. Rochdale are a dangerous team, they have got some players who can get the ball into the box and have strikers that are always on the move, who can also score and I’m sure they’ll take quite a lot of points at home this year as it’s a difficult place to come. It’s out of the way for us, I’ve just said to the players that it’s just a hurdle, lets quickly put it behind us, it’s the minimum work ethic required every game and hopefully if we can match every team, we have some players who can make a difference for us.
“Richie’s scored a few goals now. For a holding midfielder, he realises when he can get forward and contribute. It was a beautifully controlled finish on his left foot. He’s been the epitome of consistency ever since he walked in the building, when I get in at half-past 6 some days, Richie’s only 5 minutes behind me. He’s in the gym or the pool looking after his body and he’s preparing. He’s a fantastic professional footballer, he wants to win and wants to play at the highest level he can and it’s great that he gets the rewards.”
The boss was also questioned in regards to whether the song that the fans have created for Richie Smallwood has got caught in his head following the player admitting that he loved the song last week.
“No, to be honest I try to focus on the game as much as I can. I’m not really conscious of any songs, but I try and be respectful to the fans I hear my name sometimes and give them a wave but let’s hope that continues as if they’re not signing my name, we aren’t winning. The team however got their rewards for their hard work and we have to move onto a very difficult away game at Scunthorpe which we need to rest and prepare for over the next few days and pick the right team in order to replicate todays’ performance.
“I’m delighted for both Marcus (Antonsson) and Danny (Graham). Antonsson does work very hard, he closes down, chases the line and puts people under pressure. He’s still got parts of his game that he has to improve, which he knows about and we’re working hard in the video room on his movement. It’s also important that the supporters know that Danny Graham is an important piece of the jigsaw for us. He’s worked incredibly hard behind the scenes. He could have sulked and moaned that he wasn’t being picked and yet he’s got his head down and worked hard without saying anything or complained. He’s got on the pitch and done was he does, stick the ball in the net, so he has to keep working as hard as he is, stay conscientious and hopefully he’ll play and score a lot of goals for us.”
