Be maintained in the upcoming weeks
for more. Every goal had a touch of class about it, starting with the brace from Max Mata, and gave us an insight into something we did not see enough of last year – being clinical when the chances present themselves.
Saturday’s game also had another notable aspect when compared to last year. After the half-time break there was a genuine concern Rovers were slipping into an old habit of 2023 of allowing a game to easily slip from their grasp, undoing all the hard work of the first 45 minutes.
If this was 2023, Drogheda United would inevitably have made it 2-2 long before Rovers got their chance to kill the game off thanks to Wilson Waweru’s ingenious backheel goal.
Manager John Russell also crucially got his substitutions right to change the game when some fresh initiative was needed.
Charlie Wiggett slotted comfortably into a reshaped defence, Kailin Barlow offered a fresh drive to midfield and Rein Smit, Will Fitzgerald and Wilson Waweru were all excellent in stretching the Drogs defence.
But that’s not to take away from the efforts of the starting XI. Goalkeeper Ed McGinty shone yet again when he was needed most, Nando Pijnaker and Ollie Denham’s defensive partnership continued to blossom, JR Wilson was excellent in defence and attack and captain fantastic
Niall Morahan was simply outstanding in leading the midfield battle once again as he continues to brilliantly adapt to his new role in the team. As pointed out, Rovers were not brilliant over the course of 90 minutes, but it is worth pointing out that they are doing something they often struggled to do last year by getting much-needed results against teams they feel they
The number of goals scored by Rovers in their first six Men’s Premier Division games. should be beating.
Not much might have been expected from their games against Derry City, Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers when they season started, but there was certainly an expection on them to perform and beat both Dundalk and Drogheda United.
While Rovers duly delivered with six points against these sides, it remains to be seen if the opening night draw against Bohs will prove to have been a point gained or two dropped.