(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)
By Matt Bishop
Rochdale boss Keith Hill has praised Bromley ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup first round clash, assuring the media his side will not underestimate the Ravens.
Dale have only won one of their last five games, and find themselves 19th in League One, just two points above the relegation zone, but are big favourites heading into the weekend's action.
However, Hill is well aware that Bromley, who are flying high in the National League and just five points off the top, will be no pushovers – and he's adamant his players will not be complacent.
Speaking to Dale's official club website, the former Barnsley manager said: “I know a lot of the players who play for Bromley have got league experience or want to be a league experienced player.
“They're a good outfit and we have not underestimated them. You could argue that the TV panels have probably underestimated it, but we certainly haven't.”
Rochdale faced a Non-League side in last year's first round, very nearly suffering a shock at the hands of Maidstone United, so Hill is taking tomorrow's tie very seriously.
He said: “There are a lot of stresses and pressure within the game, but it's a different type of pressure that we're going into.
“Arguably, you could say that the football world will be looking at an upset but it's something we're going to take very seriously.
“We were very successful last season, having nearly gone out of the FA Cup away at Maidstone in the first round.
“Those are the small details within football that everybody wants to change in their favour – changing a negative into positive. That's what happened at Maidstone and it gave us a great run in the FA Cup again.”
