Rochdale manager Keith Hill has revealed that striker Rene Howe's hat-trick heroics against Grimsby came after a half-time ear bashing.Howe scored twice just after the break, and although Andy Taylor's header made it a nervy finish for the hosts, the on-loan Peterborough forward completed his treble to secure the points for Rochdale.

"It's not about confidence with Rene, it's all about work-rate.

"He was given a bit of a tongue-lashing at half-time because I didn't feel he turned up with the right attitude for this game. In the second half he brought his work bag and was rewarded with a hat-trick.

"Some of our approach play was magnificent but too often there was no end product. We should have killed Grimsby off long before they pulled the goal back.

"We were a bit lacklustre in our play and looked very leggy in the first half. The sending off was a bit of a turning point and while I think the referee made the right decision, after that the game was dead."

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