Lyttle not getting carried away yet
SLIGO Rovers manager Ger Lyttle insists his side will not be getting carried away following their first win of the season.
Rovers were 2-1 winners over Derry City at The Showgrounds on Friday night, and were well deserving of their victory in what was an all-round brilliant performance.
Lyttle wanted a response from his players following their disappointing start to the season, and he certainly got that.
“I thought the performance, the boys were at it from the start after last week’s disappointment. I thought we trained really well this week,” he said afterwords.
He added: “Even in training I thought the tempo was excellent this week and we put things right after last week. The news guys coming in were excellent as well, they fitted in perfectly and the boys up front worked very hard.
“We’re very pleased but it’s only the second game of the season we’re not going to be getting carried away just yet.”
Both Alistair Roy and Adam Morgan could have opened their goalscoring accounts against Limerick last week, but ultimately failed to do so.
The pair were both on Friday night’s scoresheet.
“I thought tonight that Alistair Roy caused Derry City a lot of problems with his pace and we said to him to play a bit central at times and ‘mix your play up’ and obviously there was a great ball put in and the touch was even better. Derry are a good team.”
With just two games played at the time of writing, only Derry City are without points so far.
Lyttle believes that Kenny Shiels’ men will eventually get points on board somewhere down the line.
“Everyone in this league is capable of beating each other and it’s not a cliche, it’s a really tough league.
“I’m sure Derry will start getting wins on the board. It’s good to get off the mark, everyone was getting a bit agitated and anxious. I’m de- lighted for the lads in the changing room,” he said.
David Cawley, who was previously at the club from 2012-2015, was instrumental in the Bit o’Red’s victory on Friday night.
Lyttle paid tribute to the Mayo man.
“That’s why we brought him here. He’s a great player, he’s a great lad in the changing room, he’s got leadership qualities as well.
“I thought tonight in midfield he was excellent, he didn’t put a foot wrong.”
Cawley has not been without his critics during his Sligo Rovers career, and Lyttle knows how tough it can be for a player to return to a club.
“I’m really pleased for him because I know it can be hard sometimes when you leave a club and you come back it can be a little doom and gloom and negative with some people but I thought tonight he was superb.
“I thought Eduardo in there was excellent with him. I could go through the whole team,”
There were two big calls from Lytttle with regards his team selection on Friday night, starting Chelsea loanee Mitchell Beeney and Patrick McClean who joined from Waterford.
Both players only joined the club at the end of last week and their inclusion surprised many.
But, the risk certainly paid off, as both players were solid on the night, with McClean in particular adding more balance to the Rovers defence.
“You’re looking and thinking they’ve only had one day training session and it’s a hard one but they fitted in really well.
“Patrick was really good and he’s good in terms of leadership, and a lovely left foot and he can defend and he can attack and he gives us an option in the box in terms of his head.
“Big Mitchell was excellent, he pulled off a great save early doors , and that’s given us a great life. It’s competition we wanted,” Lyttle added.