Win gives us hope, but anything can happen as relegation battle heats up
THE optimism/ pessimism pendulum swings back in the favour of the former this week for Sligo Rovers supporters following last Friday’s magnificent 1- 0 win over Cork City at Turner’s Cross. Only the second team to beat the champions elect this season, it was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Bit O’Red who although benefited from some luck, were resolute and steadfast in their protection of the points.
I, along with what must be the large majority of not just Rovers supporters but league observers as a whole, had given Rovers little chance of taking anything from Friday.
The home team, 17 points clear, eleven wins from twelve games on their own patch and beaten just once this season, against a Sligo side who hadn’t picked up an away win in the league since last October. The conclusion seemed ominous.
The hosts have struggled to choose a ready made replacement within their squad for top scorer Sean Maguire since his departure five games previous to last week’s tie.
John Caulfield’s latest idea was to try Jimmy Keohane, one of four former Rovers players in the City match day squad, as the focal point of his attack. It back- fired on the Cork boss who persisted with the tactic until mid- way through the second half.
At the other end, Rovers’ energy and creativity almost bore fruit in the opening half. Raffaele Cretaro and Vinny Faherty both going close while Cork’s makeshift attack struggled to break down a determined Rovers back four.
Man of the match Craig Roddan compared to a man possessed.
Anywhere Cork tried to find a hole or looked to break, Roddan was there to frustrate them.
I’ve been one of Craig’s biggest naysayers over the past year and I would still question Dave Robertson’s decision to tie him down to such a long contract, but he did follow on from a decent performance against Bray with a superb showing last Friday.
Whether two good outings in twelve months is enough to keep him in the club’s plans for next season - even with another season to go on his current deal - is up for discussion.
Roddan felt the wrath of referee Ray Matthews late on when he was sent off in incredibly harsh circumstances.
Matthews made some really poor decisions throughout the tie, both against and in favour of both teams.
Roddan was clearly fouled leading up to his yellow, while a Cork player’s attempt to land a fist on Tobi Adebayo- Rowling went unnoticed by the referee and both his assistant and the fourth official.
Sheppard’s late lunge on Micheál Schlingermann warranted no more than a free out when another referee might have sent Sheppard off, while a deliberate elbow to Cretaro’s neck didn’t stir.
Not to mention a stonewall penalty Matthews ignored early on when Garry Buckley clearly raised his arm to block down Chris Kenny’s volley at goal.
Looking ahead and as astonishing a result as this was, it will mean little if Rovers do not continue to pick up the points on the road.
Our future still lies in the hands of another with Finn Harps just one point behind with two games in hand.
The first was last night’s ( Monday) game with what you would hope was a hurt Cork side looking to start another winning run.
While the second is a trip to Limerick the same weekend Rovers take on Falkirk in what is now a glorified friendly given the circumstances. Galway can also pull Rovers back into the bottom three if they can beat Bohs in Dublin on the same weekend.
Friday’s win gives us hope but the players must show the same attitude against Galway and Harps as they did in front of the cameras against the champions- elect.
Upping your game against what is apparently the country’s team is one thing, but slogging it out against the teams around you is another.
That was only Rovers’ fifth league victory of the current campaign and each of the previous four wins have been followed up by defeats and indifferent form.
That cannot and must not happen this time or else its relegation - plain as.