EUR JUST WHAT I WANTED
Blaney admits he made the move to Sligo for these big nights as Rovers target Scots’ scalp
BY PAUL LENNON and GORDON PARKS PULSATING, gripping European nights were a primary factor when Shane Blaney opted to check in at The Showgrounds 18 months ago.
If last year’s underwhelming and lukewarm Europa Conference League exit to Iceland’s FH left him cold, Sligo Rovers’ adventures this summer have certainly delivered.
Tonight’s visit of Motherwell sees John Russell’s side happy with the fact that a win or draw will send them into the third qualifying round.
That’s because of last week’s sterling 1-0 success at Fir Park when Aidan Keena’s superb first half lob capped a magnificently disciplined display by Sligo that left the Steelmen looking rusty and seeking excuses.
The defeat of the Scottish Premiership club came on the back of the tense penalty shootout success over Bala Town in front of a packed Showgrounds in the previous round. “European football was a massive factor in me coming to Sligo,” said Blaney (below), whose two and a half years at Doncaster Rovers only yielded four games in the EFL Trophy while loan stints with Tamworth, Grantham Town and Blyth Spartans proved equally frustrating.
“These big games are the ones that
I want to play in and make a name for myself going forward.
“I liked the thought of Sligo and
European football. It’s where I wanted to be once I thought about it. There were nearly 8,000 there last week and they are the games that you want to play in as a footballer.”
Sligo’s display may have been blessed with a degree of good fortune but their hosts’ claims for a penalty were answered by the Bit O’ Red’s own shout for a spot kick.
But it was the solidity to manager Russell’s side and the outstanding work by his players on which the result was built.
Blaney added: “Once we put our foot on the ball then we grew into the game, you could see that a lot more in the second half.
“As the game went on we really felt that we could put our stamp on it. We didn’t feel that we were miles off it or that they were way better than us.
“They have players who can hurt you and also have clever midfielders. You have to be very alert in these games, you cannot switch off at any time.
“They will have the bit between their teeth coming here so we need to be right at it from the start and be ready.”
Blaney’s defensive prowess with Finn Harps earned him the move to Doncaster in the summer of 2018 but he’s capable of slotting into the holding midfield role when required. His display at Fir Park earned him
plaudits from his manager and the 400 traveling fans although the in-house TV commentary triggered a few peals of laughter in the north west as he was repeatedly referred to as ‘Blaney Shane’.
“I’m called ‘Blaney Shane’ everywhere now. Every text is now, ‘Well done, Blaney Shane’,” smiled the 23-year-old.
Meanwhile, boss Graham Alexander insists Motherwell weren’t caught short by a lack of match sharpness against Sligo last week and that the stats back him up.
The Fir Park boss is adamant fitness wasn’t a factor in his side’s loss against a team 23 games into their domestic campaign.
Alexander (right) has backed his players to climb up the gears at the Showgrounds tonight in only their second competitive fixture of the season.
He said: “I didn’t think we were that off the tempo. Given that was the first competitive game I was happy with the players’ physical condition. I saw the stats from the game and their condition was high.
“Even in comparison with our first league game last season which was maybe our fifth or sixth competitive game because of cup games, we were above that.
“But match sharpness and match intensity, you never get until that first competitive game. It’s just impossible to recreate.
“I don’t think that had anything to do with how the result went to be honest. We gave a poor goal away and didn’t take the chances we had. We are looking forward to it.
“We knew the game would have to be won over two legs and that’s where we are now. We will give it our best shot.”
Alexander also believes the benefit of having another week’s training under their belts should see an improved performance from a first leg which saw Motherwell supporters boo the players off the park.
He said: “The more 90 minutes you get into players, the better they become physically and mentally. I would like to think there will be a little bit more sharpness in terms of our movement and our thoughts.
“If there was a criticism of our players I thought we took too many touches in the first 20 minutes. We got into positions where we needed to progress play quicker.
“We took too much time which allowed them to get behind the ball. But that may be in the thought process rather than their legs. Every competitive game we play gets us closer to where we want to be.”
Russell is set to name the same side as last week with Seamus Keogh, Colm Horgan and Greg Bolger all injured.