Ian Watson happier with performance than result as Rochdale make cup first round

Rochdale manager Ian Watson was more pleased with his side’s performance than the result after booking their place in the Carabao Cup first round with a shoot-out win at Tranmere.

Dale’s goals came from Ryan East and Zain Silcott-Duberry as the game finished 2-2 in normal time, and the new boss reckons his players showed encouraging signs throughout the contest.

He said: “I was less concerned about the result today. We were looking to see our concepts and our principles on show, and I saw some really good stuff both in and out of possession.

“Even when the clock was ticking down, we didn’t panic or come away from what we were doing.”

Victory at Prenton Park sets up a clash with League One outfit Bradford in a week’s time, and Watson admitted he is relishing the challenge.

“We’re really looking forward to next Saturday now,” he added. “It’s going to be tough, Bradford are an incredible team.

“They run and press a lot, but it’s one we’re really looking forward to.”

Watson confirmed in his post-match interview that midfielder Will Jenkins, signed from South Shields this summer, ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in Tuesday’s friendly defeat to Halifax and faces a long spell on the sidelines.

Rovers boss Darrell Clarke was left frustrated by the visitors’ late equaliser, but he believes there are positives to take from the defeat.

He said: “I’m very annoyed about the corner that we conceded. I’ve just said to my players it’s going to be a long season if we’re conceding set-pieces often.

“It’s not all negative, though. I thought we created a lot of clear-cut chances through our pressing and we could have been three or four goals up at half-time. We’ve just got to be more ruthless.”