Jim sets sights on fourth-place finish

IM McNulty praised the Rochdale playing squad and backroom team for ensuring the club take their place among the National League play off contenders at the end of the regular season.

- RICHARD PARTINGTON

A thumping 5-1 win against Hartlepool United on Saturday guaranteed Dale a place among the top-seven finishers.

The victory lifted Dale above Oldham into fourth place and McNulty insists the work does not stop there - he is now setting his sights on securing a fourth-place finish and a home tie in the play-offs.

Dale were due to take on Solihull Moors on Tuesday night ahead of the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Braintree Town in the final game of the regular season.

And on reaching the play-offs, McNulty said: “I'm very proud, it’s an honor of course. It’s been a vision that we've wanted to make a reality. It's about every day, every session, every element of feedback and planning, coaching, commitment from the team more than anything else. Mutual belief, the staff in the players and the players in the staff, which has forged an alignment with the fans that has been a pleasure to be part of and it’s definitely been a pleasure to lead.

“On my behalf the season’s far from over and we want to finish fourth, no doubt about it.

“We want to take as many points as we can from the remaining games, despite the fact I’m enjoying the fact we beat Hartlepool and we achieved play-off qualification.

“I'm looking forward to the next game and I really believe it’s one we can take on and hopefully revel in that performance, take that to Solihull and go and try to cement a fourth-place finish and a home tie in the play-offs.

“That's that's where my mind’s at now, but I know that’s where the team’s minds are at as well. This was league match day 43, but it was no different to one, two or three to me, it was just about performance. The next couple are about performance as well.”