Russell is pleased with the outcome as the goals arrive
GIVEN that Sligo Rovers had failed to score in their three previous home games this season, with their seven goals prior to last Saturday’s hosting of Drogheda United all coming from away trips, it was understandable that unease gave way to euphoria when the Bit O’Red won 3-1.
There were shaky moments against the Louth club but three goals on home soil had The Showgrounds bouncing, even if the attendance – 2,243 – was down on the big crowds that watched the scoreless draws with Derry City and Shamrock Rovers.
On-loan striker Max Mata scored twice, new signing Wilson Waweru goaled gorgeously from a backheel and there were also minutes for new arrival Rein Smit, who’ll be one of the attacking options to replace Mata when the New Zealand international’s short-term deal ends.
Rovers boss John Russell was beaming afterwards. He stated: “I’m delighted – you need to get wins on the board, that’s the name of the game.
“We got a few [three] draws so far this season and knew the importance of this fixture, to get three points at home. Max [Mata] is such a threat in the box – there were two really good moves for his goals.
“But I’m disappointed with how we performed in the first-half – Drogheda were the better team for the first 10 or 15 minutes and they put us under a lot of pressure. We had to rely on Ed [McGinty] to make one or two saves.
“We let the players know that we expected better from them and we had to make those changes in the second-half. The guys that came off the bench made a huge impact and we switched to two up top late on.”
Russell had a special mention for goalscorer ex-Galway United player Wilson Waweru, who terrorised defences in last year’s SSE Airtricity League Men’s First Division when on loan with Cobh Ramblers.
“It was a brilliant goal by Wilson – I’m just so happy for him that he got off the mark so early in the season, that’s great for strikers and their confidence. He’s a really good player and he’s training well. He’s getting used to how we play and we are working with him.”
The manager is also delighted to have finally signed Rein Smit, a 23-yearold forward from the Netherlands who came through the Heerenveen academy. Smit impacted in the Dutch second tier
(Eerste Divisie) with Telstar.
“I’ve been chasing Rein for over a year now. I think he has got really good attributes – he makes good runs and he had link the play.”
The international break means that Rovers aren’t in competitive action again until Friday week, March 29, when they are away to Waterford FC.
Two of the Rovers’ senior men’s squad, Nando Pijnaker and Max Mata, will be international duty with New Zealand for games against Egypt this coming Saturday and either Croatia or Tunisia on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Russell added: “The lads will have a day or two off but we’ll also have a friendly. We have to build on this result and get the momentum going – beating Drogheda is a huge three points for us.
“We have a new group [this year] and there are going to be ups and downs. I felt that we should have had more points on the board coming into this game.”
Sligo Rovers v Drogheda United (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm)
St Patrick’s Athletic v Sligo Rovers (Richmond Park, 5pm)
Sligo Rovers v Galway United (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm)
Friday, April 12
Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers (Tallaght Stadium, 8pm)
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION P D F
6 1 9
6 2 10 6 3 10 6 2 9 6 1 4 5 1 6 5 3 5 6 0 5
5 1 5
5 2 1 0
Diff +6 +4 +6 +1 0 -1 0 -3 -5 -8