Russell wants team to start picking up points

NEXTUP

SLIGO Rovers manager John Russell was disappointed leaving Richmond Park last Sunday, feeling that his side were full value for at least a point against St Patrick’s Athletic.

One ill-timed mistake was all that separated these well-matched sides in a 1-0 win for the hosts, but these are often the margins that make the difference in the race for Europe.

“We would have liked to have got a draw with the way the game played out,” Russell said.

“The goal was a bad error on our part, but we had enough time to get back into the game but we didn’t create enough chances when we needed to.”

Rovers’ inability to counter-attack at pace suffered with the absence of striker Aidan Keena, who Russell confirmed is nursing a knee strain which is being closely monitored to avoid a risk of a long-term injury.

“Aidan had a knee strain in the Bohs game that he was able to play through, but in the days after he knew it wasn’t right. It isn’t too serious but we are monitoring it closely to make sure it isn’t aggravated.

He continued: “We are hopeful he

(AWAY)

FINN HARPS

AFTER their stumble away to St Patrick’s Athletic, Rovers will hope for much better fortunes on the road this week – they are in Ballybofey’s Finn Harps tomorrow, Friday (8pm start). Although bottom of the table, having lost 17 of their 26 games, Ollie Horgan’s Harps cannot be taken for granted, even if the Bit O’Red have beaten them three times this season – 3-1 (March 14), 1-0 (April 18) and 3-0 (June 18).

Harps’ most recent game was their 2-1 away defeat to fellow relegation candidates UCD last Friday.

will have the all-clear to play against Finn Harps.”

Last Sunday’s result opened up a four-point gap between fourth-placed St Pat’s and fifth-placed Rovers, while the Bit O’Red find themselves 10 point adrifts of Derry City in third.

With the aim of having another European adventure next year, their hopes of a top-four finish have far from waned knowing that one good weekend would quickly bring Rovers into a strong position for one of those places.

“This is an unpredictable league where points are unexpectedly dropped every week, but we have to go on a [winning] run now.

“We have quality in this group with who is fit and available. We have achieved a lot in the last two months but we need to move the ball as quickly as we know we can and cut out the silly errors that are costing us.”

Rovers need to restore the winning form by overcoming bottom of the table Finn Harps tomorrow, Friday, at Finn Park. Nothing short of a good performance will suffice for Russell, knowing the threat an under-pressure Harps have a history of presenting. “They are always tough opponents and Ballybofey is a difficult place to go. We are looking forward to this game but we are well aware Finn Harps are fighting for their lives.”

Russell stressed: “They have quality in the final third that will punish us if we aren’t at our best so how it pans out will be about how well we play on the night.