ROCHDALE’S position in the table belies the job being done by manager Brian Barry-Murphy, according to Karl Robinson.

Tonight Oxford United visit a side who sit 18th in Sky Bet League One and are winless since December 15.

The raw statistics point to a team struggling, yet with one of the smallest budgets in the third tier, they are nonetheless punching above their weight.

Barry-Murphy had to cope with the exits of key attacking duo Ian Henderson and Callum Camps last summer, but only four clubs have scored more than their 35 goals.

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This is all less than two years into the Irishman’s first managerial job and Robinson feels his opposite number’s task should not be underestimated.

“Brian Barry-Murphy is not getting anywhere near the compliments he should be getting,” the U’s head coach said.

“It baffles me.

“You see an unpredictability in their results and you’d argue that’s because they don’t have the ability to keep hold of players for long periods of time.

“You have to be brave in your philosophy knowing you can’t compete with some teams and they’ve certainly done that.”

Rochdale famously spent 36 years in the fourth tier before promotion in 2010.

The Lancashire club were relegated in 2012 but went back up two years later and have stayed in League One ever since.

Barry-Murphy came in when Keith Hill was sacked in March 2019 and steered Dale to 16th, before they finished 18th in 2019/20.

“I look from afar and think what they’ve done over the last ten years is incredible – the youth players they bring through, the signings that they make,” Robinson added.

“They always play an attractive brand of football and manage to stay in the league as well.”