Four wins from 15 games is nowhere near the required standard

WHAT seemed like a couple of tentative steps forward were all but cancelled out on Saturday night as Sligo Rovers supporters were left wondering where to next following another miserable home performance.

Beaten for the sixth time at home this season and again against opposition we should be dominating, we thought we had showings as poor as the one against Derry behind us.

There were admirable performances against Cork, Pat’s and Waterford which hinted at a corner being turned, only to again to be left frustrated by another abhorrent display.

This time against what was a less than ordinary Bohemians outfit who had gone five games without a win.

After trying to play what was something which formed a resemblance to entertaining football against Pat’s and Waterford, we went back to this hit and hope rubbish which Rovers so often revert to.

Playing with this cave-man tactic, any time a defender has the ball in time and space, he is to at every possible chance launch the ball towards the opposition’s backline in the hope the ball might fall for someone to run on to.

What makes it worse is you’re relying unfairly on Greg Moorhouse, one of the league’s more diminutive front men to win the ball against six foot defenders before bringing his team mates into play.

It didn’t work at any stage this or last season. So it’s extremely likely it’s not going to work again.

Many supporters seemed to lose patience with the current regime after the Derry game. Unfortunately many of those supporters who make up our fortnightly home attendance wouldn’t have seen the hard-working performances in our two longest trips to Cork and Waterford.

The scoreless draw with Pat’s my have swayed minds in some small way but the reaction of many after Saturday seems to suggest a new approach is wanted.

Poor football, no leadership in the team, questionable tactical choices and a sorry lack of goals are all adding up to further calls for change. It’s becoming difficult to push against the tide and argue in favour of what’s going on at the Showgrounds.

Four wins from 15 games is nowhere near the standard required. We beat a good Derry side on the second game of the year. Yes, a good result against what looks like one of the strongest Candystripes teams in years. But we had to drag ourselves over the line to pull a win from Limerick and two over Bray. The only two teams below us in the table!

The weekend’s defeat was harder to take when you consider a win would have put us just three points behind St Pat’s with Rovers due to travel to Inchicore in seven days time.

Even to again trip over the line and win 1-0 would have put a totally different slant on things. Instead, we’ve handed the initiative to Bohs who leap-frog us into seventh leaving us looking nervously over our shoulders at whether Bray’s revival will continue and how long Limerick’s poor form can go on for.

The Bray game saw another slow start from Rovers who peaked late in the first half.

Fortunately, this time it was enough and we made the most of our chances when Eduardo Pinceli and Jack Keaney registered their first goals for the club.

The Seagulls were never out of the tie as long as they were within two goals of Rovers and although Lewis Morrison caused problems when he came on, the withdrawal of Pinceli saw Rovers lose their grip on the game.

Our ability or maybe lack of, to dominate and kill off the teams below us will play a pivotal role in where Rovers find themselves come late Autumn.

The three points were welcome although became only temporary relief.

This regime certainly knows how to put supporters on edge and unfortunately the following result seems to have added more voices to the anti-Lyttle brigade.

The season rolls on tonight and ahead of a daunting trip to Oriel Park on Friday, Waterford visit the Showgrounds this evening for our EA Sports Cup quarter final. Having battled them to become the first side in 2018 to take a point from the RSC last month, the players will be familiar with Alan Reynolds’ physical style.

Rovers didn’t create too much down there but didn’t look out of their depth against a team who themselves showed weaknesses at the back.

The league cup isn’t a glamorous competition, but this evening nevertheless represents a huge opportunity to make it to the last four of a competition where the presence of a First Division team is guaranteed.