Burt has high Hoops for Bohs now

Sligo goalkeeper Luke McNicholas did well to hold on to a Dean Williams effort after Drogheda made the most of the space afforded to them down their left side.

While Mayo man McNicholas had to reach under his crossbar to tip over a bending freekick from Georgie Poynton from the edge of the Rovers box three minutes later.

Keena settled the tie on 75 minutes from the spot after Nando Pijnaker was pushed in the penalty area.

Russell failed to see too many positives in Rovers’ showing — a result that leaves their slim hopes of European qualification alive, just about.

“It’s a positive to win the game but we have to look at our performances, what we’re doing in training and what we’re asking the players to do”, he continued.

“There’s a couple of things that have come up the last few weeks that we need to stop doing and we’re still doing those things and that’s disappointing.”

SLIGO: L McNicholas; L Banks, N Pijnaker, C Evans (C Horgan 67), P Kirk; W Fitzgerald (C Heaney 82), G Bolger (N Morahan 56), R Burton, F Liivak; A Keena, M Mata (K Barlow 56).

DROGHEDA: C McCabe; G Poynton (L Heeney 66), K Cowan (D Massey HT), A Quinn, E Weir; D Noone (D Nugent 57), G Deegan; D Grimes (A Foley 66), D Rooney, D Markey (E Topcu 85); D Williams.

Referee: Alan Patchell.

LIAM BURT hopes the derby win over Shamrock Rovers is a turning point for Bohemians’ season.

The Scottish star’s goal was enough to claim all three points on Friday night — and start the post-Keith Long era with a bang.

Burt (right) admitted it had been a tough few weeks at the club, following the tragic passing of fan and volunteer Derek ‘Mono’ Monaghan, and the departure of Long.

“It’s not been a great week but to end the week on that, it shows that we’re all together now.

“To put in that performance, it’s shown the supporters a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”

He hailed the influence of caretaker manager Derek Pender, who with Trevor Croly took charge of Friday night’s clash.

“For someone to step in like Detser epitomises the club and showed the new players this week how much it means so to get a win like that, just tops it off,” said Burt.

Happy

“It shows, the boys played for him. If you put performances in like that, it doesn’t just make him happy as well, it makes the full club happy.

“That’s the main focus, to show the supporters what we can give them.

“A result like that can only make them go home happy for the weekend.”

Burt was a constant thorn in Rovers’ side in an unusual role, playing as a number 10.

He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions before firing home a classy winner with 18 minutes remaining.

Midfielder Burt said

“Now we’ve a free flowing front three so we can interchange as well, it’s not really stuck in that number ten, as you say.”

The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and admitted that talks with the club had not yet taken place.

“I’m just concentrating on playing football, that’s the only thing I’m looking forward to and putting in performances like that for the team.”