Second loss of the season isn’t the end of Rovers’ world
SLIGO Rovers slipped off the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division because Chris Lyons, once of The Showgrounds, showed why he is arguably this season’s most improved League of Ireland striker by netting two world-class goals at The Showgrounds last Saturday night.
Lyons’ deft lob after nine minutes and his scorching drive in the 61st minute gave last season’s First Division champions a 2-0 advantage, a hazardous situation that an unusually sluggish Rovers were unable to extract themselves from.
The Liam Buckley-managed home side did manage to halve the deficit in the 90th minute when Shane Blaney guided a thumping header to the net – from a Greg Bolger corner – but time ran out for Liam Buckley’s men to
WHEN viewed in isolation, this wasn’t a great 2-1 defeat. It was a poor performance from Sligo Rovers, yes, and a display full of vim from Drogheda United, whose ability to not only survive but thrive in the top half of the top tier grows with each passing week.
It certainly was an evening to remember for the visitors’ front man Chris Lyons, who mightn’t score these type of goals again in his career. Well, once he doesn’t either deliciously lob or batter the ball past Ed McGinty in a future meeting between the clubs – he can lob/volley against Shams.
Who knew that when Lyons had a
HEADER: Shane Blaney, who netted Rovers’ goal against Drogheda United.
prevent their first Premier Division loss since April 24.
As bad as it was to lose, having only really played well in the second-half, Rovers allowed the Premier Division’s short stint at The Showgrounds in 2016, scoring just once, that he would head off to pastures new and develop into the kind of goalscorer who is capable of such finishes as were witnessed in the flesh (by the 100 Rovers fans in attendance) and the hundreds more who logged on to the LOITV streaming service.
In recent weeks there were hints that Rovers manager Liam Buckley was on the look out for a couple of first team squad additions, in midfield and attack.
Centre-back Garry Buckley’s enforced absence due to injury against Drogheda United might have had some fans wondering if defensive reinforcements are required but this is where Buckley is well-stocked.
Shane Blaney came in and did OK alongside the excellent John Mahon. Lewis Banks can also play at centre-back, so too Danny Kane who was back in the matchday squad after recent injury issues.
Forward Romeo Parkes also missed last weekend’s game (he was suspended) and although his season has been hit and miss, probably more miss than hit at times, along with his inconsistent displays comes unpredictability – he has, after all, scored four times this season.
Maybe his attacking spontaneity could have ruffled a Drogheda defence that was only troubled when Rovers changed their formation to accommodate an attacking quartet of Johnny Kenny, Walter Figueira, attitude for the second-half and they changed things up in terms of personnel, with Colm Horgan and Johnny Kenny both coming on.
The Bit O’Red’s first shot on target was Robbie McCourt’s effort in the 57th minute. This led to a corner and from this set-piece there was a header from Lewis Banks that saw the ball somehow stay out, despite hitting the inside of the post.
Jordan Gibson and Ryan De Vries. Midfielder Niall Morahan was the player sacrificed in order for Buckley
Three minutes later Drogheda had doubled their lead – Chris Lyons once more the executioner – to leave Rovers in a predicament not suffered this year as this was the first time in 2021 that they’ve gone 2-0 down.
Greg Bolger, Player of the Month for May, lofted identical passes to the back post, finding Jordan Gibson, whose shot was saved, and then Ryan De Vries, whose cross to the feet of to utilise this option.
Lewis Banks was unlucky that his headed effort didn’t find the net but