Russell reckons his side merited a draw
NEXTUP
MATHEMATICALLY, Sligo Rovers, in fifth, can still make the top four. Despite being 10 points off fourthplaced St Patrick’s Athletic, who also have played one game fewer, there’s still hope.
Now it is a case of a Lot O’Hope for the Bit O’Red, following Tuesday’s agonising 1-0 away loss to the title-chasing Derry City.
It is Rovers’ second loss in recent days because of them losing those three points that they earned against Dundalk.
Rovers need a miracle, namely St Pat’s to implode, and with it a run of perfect results – six wins from their remaining six games.
John Russell, the Rovers manager, was frustrated that his side didn’t take at least a point from the contest at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, a tight affair that was settled by Will Patching’s first-half goal.
He said: “I felt that we – at least – deserved to take a draw from the game. Our shape was good and we knew beforehand that it was going to be a difficult match.
“We knew that we would have to defend well and counter-attack.
“We had chances. It wasn’t to be but I can’t fault the effort of the players, especially in the second-half. “Derry had a lot of the ball but we allowed them to have it, that was the plan. They had possession of the ball but they didn’t really cut us open.”
He continued: “I felt we were still in the game, even at 1-0 down. That was the message at halftime – to keep going and to get more aggressive in the second-half. “We got after them more in the second-half and pressed them higher up the pitch. “Unfortunately we just
SHAMROCK RVRS
DUE to a combination of the Extra.ie FAI Men’s Cup quarter-finals being on this weekend (with Rovers out of this year’s competition since July) and the international break on the weekend after next, the Bit O’Red aren’t in Premier Division action until Saturday, October 1.
This game in a little over two weeks’ time is a potential corker as champions Shamrock Rovers come to The Showgrounds (kickoff 7.45pm). The holders, who are being closely chased by both Derry City and Dundalk, were 3-1 winners when the sides met in May at Tallaght Stadium – in that fixture Graham Burke scored a hat-trick. But Rovers twice held the Dublin giants earlier this season – a 2-2 away draw in March and a 1-1 share of the spoils in Sligo in April.
(HOME)
weren’t able to get a goal. We were unlucky not to get a draw.”
This was a second away fixture in five days for Rovers, with the Bit O’Red having won 2-0 at Tolka Park last Friday, but Russell maintained that the players prepare for such scenarios. “Facing two away games like we did was going to be difficult but our recent performances have been good – we knew that Derry would be a decent side. They are challenging Shamrock Rovers for the title.”
Russell said that there are two friendlies planned for the first team squad because the next competitive game isn’t until October 1. He remained upbeat and didn’t say if Rovers’ European hopes were now totally juiced after this defeat.
“We’ve six games to go and we have to try to win as many games as we can. For me, it is always about the next game – we have to try to beat
Shamrock Rovers.
“We have to finish the season on the front foot, with strong results. We have to build on what we have, this is a work in progress.” He added: “We can see the improvements – we will regroup after this game and prepare well over the next two weeks.”
Rovers’ remaining fixtures in this season’s top flight are against Shamrock Rovers (home, October 1), UCD (away, October 7), Derry City (home, October 15), Dundalk (away, October 21), St Patrick’s Athletic (home, October 29) and Bohemians (away, November 4).