SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division FRUSTRATING HOME DRAW THEGAME
SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Sligo Rovers Dundalk 1 1
AS SLIGO Rovers manager John Russell pointed out afterwards, home games have to be won. Rovers couldn’t beat struggling Dundalk last Friday at The Showgrounds as Fabrice Hartmann’s brilliant 16th minute goal was later cancelled out by a Dundalk equaliser – Jamie Gullan’s converted spot-kick – five minutes into the second-half.
Dundalk, usually, are formidable so a 1-1 stalemate with the Louth outfit would be digested as a reasonable outfit.
But this present edition of Dundalk, although showing signs of a rebirth in recent weeks, have been a shambles – they had failed to win any of their 10 games prior to their trip to Sligo and among their six losses was a 5-0 hammering at Sligo’s hands on March 4.
Bottom of the table Dundalk are likely to improve, with Noel King confirmed as their new boss, and so it was imperative that Rovers took advantage of Dundalk’s current inertia.
Rovers, who came into this fixture on the back of back-to-back 3-0 losses in the top flight (against St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers), were dynamic from the outset and winger
BEST FOR ROVERS: Fabrice Hartmann. The German was outstanding. He scored an outrageous first-half goal and was consistently Rovers’ main attacking outlet. The winger’s 70th minute withdrawal due to injury was certainly a relief for the visitors.
TURNING POINT: Dundalk’s equaliser. The strugglers wished for a better second-half and Jamie Gullan’s converted spot-kick in the 49th minute is exactly the kickstart Dundalk were looking for and unfortunately it pegged Rovers back for the remainder.
Fabrice Hartmann, on loan from German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig until June 30, was switched on.
Hartmann was almost immediately asking questions of Dundalk’s defence, Niall Morahan and Connor Malley were winning the midfield battle and Ellis Chapman was ghosting into goalscoring positions.
Rovers’ first serious shot was an on-target effort from Reece Hutchinson. A minute later The Showgrounds was rocking after a wonder goal from Fabrice Hartmann, who cut in from the right flank before curling home a delicious long-range effort.
The talented yet infuriatingly inconsistent Hartmann continued to be Rovers’ go-to guy and Dundalk, although subdued, were stirring when Daryl Horgan was getting on the ball.
Rovers twice could have doubled their lead in the last five minutes of the first-half but both goalscorer Hartmann and Connor Malley sent low shots narrowly wide of George Shelvey’s goal.
The home side had every reason to be confident at the break, even if a 1-0 lead in the Men’s Premier Division is often never enough.
Dundalk’s breakthrough came following a 48th minute corner. Striker Jamie Gullan was fouled in Rovers’ penalty area by JR Wilson as he went to get on the end of the corner delivery. Referee Paul Norton signalled for a spot-kick and Gullan converted. This was Gullan’s second goal of the season and only Dundalk’s fourth in 11 games.
Dundalk’s saviour was transformed – he had a second goal only for it to be chalked off because of an offside and he later unleashed a shot that was saved by Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty.
Rovers, who had to replace Max Mata at the break due to an injury picked up by their leading goalscorer, thought they were due a penalty after a 78th minute tackle on Mata’s replacement, Wilson Waweru, by Zak Johnson in Dundalk’s box.
Waweru earlier went close with a header and another of Rovers’ second-half substitutes, Kailin Barlow, was a lively presence and threatened to notch a goal.
But Rovers suffered when Fabrice Hartmann was forced off – before his departure the attacker had twice looked to add to his first-half goal. He had two free-kicks on target, the second of which was a fizzing, angled drive that required George Shelvey to tip over.
John Russell was disgusted by the outcome. “I’m really disappointed. We targeted three points. I felt we were really good in the firsthalf – I was pleased coming in at half-time [to be 1-0 up] but we knew there was going to be a reaction from Dundalk.
“We didn’t start the second-half well at all – we gifted them a penalty. There was a bit of a momentum swing and they got on top of the game for 15 or 20 minutes.
He continued: “It swung back in our favour towards the end – we went with two up top but we didn’t work their goalkeeper enough.
“Our set plays weren’t good enough. We asked for a 90-minute performance and we got 45.”
The Rovers boss, who was speaking to LOITV, added: “The second-half [display] wasn’t acceptable. We should be winning our home matches and
The number of months left in winger Fabrice Hartmann’s loan deal from RB Leipzig.
Fabrice Hartmann Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Charlie Wiggett, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley; Fabrice Hartmann (Rein Smit 70), Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow 70), Will Fitzgerald (Stefan Radosavljevic 80); Max Mata (Wilson Waweru 46)
Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Kyle McDonagh, Conor Reynolds, Owen Elding, Daire Patton
Dundalk: George Shelvey; Archie Davies, Mayowa Animasahun (Zak Johnson 25), Andy Boyle, Zak Bradshaw; Scott High, Paul Doyle (Dara Keane 46); Samuel Durrant (Ryan O’Kane 68), Daryl Horgan; Robbie Benson; Jamie Gullan (Eoin Kenny 79)
Subs not used: Ross Munro (gk), Louie Annesley, Koen Oostenbrink, Hayden Muller, John Mountney
Referee: Paul Norton
Attendance: 2,287