End of clean sheet run a clean slate for Lilywhites
was between the sticks but was delighted to see his team-mates clock up a fourth win in-a-row on Friday night to climb to the top of the table.
‘It was a fantastic win and a really great atmosphere. It was probably a really good game for neutrals looking in as well but for us most importantly it was the right result for us.’
The one downside on Friday night was a first goal conceded all season but Rogers was pleased with how his side reacted to that setback.
‘Goals effect games and the goal going in from the set piece gave Rovers a lifeline whereas at 2-0 with 10 minutes to go it’s dead. It gave them really something to go for and they threw a lot of balls forward so we had to hold our nerve and see the game out.’
Having recently clocked up the 500th league appearance of his career, Rogers was honoured with a special momento by the FAI last week.
It will take pride of place in his home but having seen his side go top of the table on goal difference on Friday, Rogers is anxious to see his side stay there to ensure he has another league medal to add to his honours come the end of the season.
Of the momento from the FAI, he said: ‘It’s a great milestone to get to and it was nice for it to be recognised by the FAI as well. Hopefully there will be plenty more to come after it.
‘We’re top of the table now, albeit on goal difference. The challenge now is for us to stay there. This group of players is well used to that pressure so we’ll try to stay there as long as we can,’ he said. THE one downside to Dundalk’s victory over Shamrock Rovers on Friday night was the side’s concession of their first goal this season after more than 13 hours without being breached.
Daniel Carr’s header 15 minutes from the end was the only blow on a night when Stephen Kenny’s side held off a late Rovers fightback to move top of the table on goal difference.
The clean sheet record might be gone but stand-in Dundalk captain Dane Massey has challenged his side to start a new run of shut outs, starting against his old club Bray Wanderers on Friday.
He said: ‘We were disappointed to concede, particularly from a set piece, but you can’t get carried away with it.
‘It was nice that we got to eight clean sheets but it was going to happen someday. You can’t go all year without conceding.
‘It’s done now but now we can concentrate on going on another little run now and there will be another target set.’
Amongst those targets is to ensure that Dundalk remain at the summit now that they lead the way in the title race.
‘It’s up to us now to stay there,’ said Massey.
‘We’ve got to work even harder now. Over the last few years when we’ve been on top our professionalism has always gone up in everything we do so that needs to happen again now.
‘We’ve a good few away matches coming up so it is going to get tougher so we’re going to have to get the heads down now and get stuck in. The games will come thick and fast now over the next couple of weeks but we’re looking forward to it and it’s all to play for now,’ he said.
The left back felt his side were full value for their victory over Rovers on Friday night.
‘It was a very tough game. Rovers are a very physical team and they go very direct but we prepared all week and I think we deserved it overall. We created the better chances, hitting the post and crossbar.
‘I know they scored towards the end with a set piece that we’re not happy about but it’s all good once we win.
‘Sean Gannon scored this week and Chris Shields this week so we’re having a great mix of goalscorers too.
‘Everyone is popping up with goals but once we’re scoring that’s the main thing and we’re creating chances. The new lads are starting to really gel in and click now which is great to see.’
The one real disappointment from the first quarter of matches played to date is the 0-0 draw with Friday’s opponents Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park on the opening day of the season. That remains the Seagulls’ only point to date and Massey insists Dundalk have to ensure they don’t drop points against the league’s bottom side again on Friday.
‘No disrespect to them but realistically if we want to win the title we should be going to Bray and winning on Friday.
‘I know we dropped points to them already but that was the first game of the season and we had a lot out with sickness and illness. We were struggling with our squad and had a few players out of position as well. It happens sometimes but to be fair to Bray we were lucky to get the draw in that game as well.
‘We will be taking nothing for granted on Friday,’ he said.