GOOD FOR PAT’S

A late power Serge energises Saints’ chances

Finland with SJK before joining the Saints on an 18-month deal.

He has already made his mark in a big way.

As the visitors tired in the 28 degree heat, Atakayi was one of the reinforcements sent for by Clancy and he replaced Billy King in the 81st minute.

Vital

Six minutes later, Jamie Lennon won a vital header clear from a CSKA corner, O’Reilly fired a ball over the top and, under pressure from Atakayi, defender Asen Donchev’s misjudged his header back to Gustavo Busatto.

Atakayi nutmegged the keeper and stroked home.

“The game was getting stretched and I think they were feeling pressure from their home fans to go and get a winner themselves,” said Clancy.

“Serge has that energy, that pace and the quality as well, so we thought that making that change in that moment in the game might have given us that opportunity.

“And thankfully Serge got onto a short back pass, rounded the keeper and slotted home, and got us the win.”

The visitors saw out a tense six minutes of injury time as keeper Joseph Anang saved from Mauricio Garces to secure the victory.

The likes of Lennon, O’Reilly, King and Barry Cotter took the game to a CSKA side that was sluggish to start with and never found a high gear.

The Saints were energised on the counter, especially through the tireless Cotter. Nevertheless Pat’s were wasteful too often.

For instance, Cotter’s 25th minute run should have King as he charged in on goal, but he over-hit the cross.

In the second half, O’Reilly produced a weak finish after a promising run, then Doyle found himself in acres of space but Chris Forrester couldn’t find him with a diagonal ball.

When Forrester did find him, in the 64th minute, Doyle had a clear shot at goal and fired off the crossbar — and was relieved to see the offside flag go up.

The best that CSKA could muster was a 31st minute shot by Garces and, while Anang couldn’t hold it, he did so at the second attempt.

There were moments when the Saints rearguard was under pressure but, bar one second-half blip, Joe Redmond was a colossus at the heart of it.

“We came here to be resilient and that’s what we did,” said the skipper.

“I think we managed the game, to a man, excellently. We defended when we needed to defend.

Better

“Going into next week we have to be that little bit better because everyone is going to up their game.

“We’ve got to be right at it again next week as well.”

The men from Inchicore will believe all the more now.

However Clancy warned: “We’re under no illusion in thinking it’s going to be easier next week, it will be harder than it was tonight and for us to get through is going to take an effort from everyone.”