Sheridan exits on high as Bohs crash
JOHN Sheridan signed off his eight-game stint at Waterford in style as the Blues moved third in the Premier Division table with a 2-0 win away to Bohemians.
The former Ireland international was confirmed as the new Wigan Athletic boss shortly after the full-time whistle blew at Dalymount Park following another impressive Blues win.
First-half goals from Ali Coote and Tyreke Wilson earned the visitors their second win on the bounce to move above Dundalk and within four points of secondplaced Bohs.
All the talk at full time was about the manager, who has opted to return to his native Lancashire to take over a club still in administration.
Sheridan paid tribute to a young group of players who have bought into his robust methods and all but guaranteed safety for the Blues.
‘The players have been tremendous from day one. We’ve got a small squad and injuries to important players but every one of them have got on board with where I’m trying to go,’ he said.
Sheridan denied the accusation, by former Dundalk boss Vinny Perth, that he’d called the League of Ireland a ‘pub league’ and praised the competitive standard.
He revealed that former Wigan and Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook played a major role in getting him the job at Wigan, which starts with a trip to Ipswich Town on Sunday.
‘Everything’s happened very quickly and I’m chuffed to bits because there are probably lots of better managers than me out there looking for work. It was just something I couldn’t turn down.’
Bohs came into the game determined to avenge last week’s 1-0 derby defeat to Shamrock Rovers with the recalled Danny Mandroiu central to their early efforts.
But it was Waterford who took the lead against the run of play, however, Coote’s drive from edge of the box deflecting off Dan Casey and skidding through the bands of Stephen McGuinness.
John Martin almost doubled the advantage when he crashed a shot off the bar, but Waterford did take a two-goal lead into the break.
Casey was caught in possession by Michael O’Connor in injury time and pulled down the striker, and Wilson curled a wonderful free kick over the wall and into the bottom corner.
Bohs came out fighting but it was Waterford who went closest to adding the score, Martin hitting the post with a header before Wilson did the same with another well-hit free kick. BOHEMIANS: McGuinness; Lyons, Finnerty, Casey, Breslin; Buckley, Lunney (Levingston 50), Mandroiu (Omochere 77); Grant (Ward 77), Twardek, Wright (McAuley 71).
WATERFORD: Murphy; Sobowakle, Davidson, McCourt, Wilson; Coote, Weir, Martin (O’Keeffe 83); O’Connor (Walsh 70), Smith, Byrne.
Scorers: Coote 25, Wilson 45. Referee: Damien McGraith.