| "Decent end to a difficult week" - Sean Connor |
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| Tuesday, 16 May 2006 | |
 "A decent end to a difficult week was Sean Connor's verdict when he spoke to Rory Houston of sligorovers.com following the draw at home to Drogheda on Saturday night.Following the 0-0 draw with league leaders Drogheda United, manager Sean Connor described the result as "a decent end to a difficult week" The game was a massive test of the team's bouncebackability and it was clear to see Connor was a proud man as he took questions from the gathered local media. "We're still unbeaten at home. Tonight was about character not reputation and we've showed our true form and our true character tonight and that is what’s important. Reputation is what people think you are and character is who you really are and I know I've got a changing room full of proper characters." Going into the game on Saturday, you could forgive the Bit o'Red for fearing a first home defeat of the season after poor displays at the hand of UCD and Finn Harps and then having the "champions of Ireland" come to town... However, these worries were put to bed with an excellent team performance and it seems the Belfast natives motto of "Total Faith" was always on the players mind. "I never lost my focus, I never lost my confidence. We've come through strong and when we play like that and compete we are as good as any team. "We played 4 games in 11 days and even the biggest squad in the country would struggle with that. I had to do it with 18 players and two of them were probably carrying injuries. Adam Hughes has lost a stone in weight in the last 2 weeks. That’s why he was rested tonight so we have done well to come through this and show that type of character" Reflecting on the 90 minutes, the manager gave this assessment: "I don't think they created more chances than we did, We created just as many and defended solidly all night. Yes, you are always worried with the sort of luck we have been having lately but we had clear cut chances, McTiernan had a one on one, Judge had a one on one and Adam Hughes had a great opportunity.” Last Saturday was a fantastic team display but when asked about individuals Connor had this to say Faz: "We started him wide left and later put 3 in the middle and tried to put him behind the front two. It didn't quite pan out like that but I thought he finished the game well. The lad has got great ability, he is just taking a bit of pressure from the crowd. I just don't understand it, I don't know why. He's as good as anybody in that position in the country. Adam Hughes and Chris Turner: "My two main transfer targets were Adam Hughes and Chris Turner and I got them both in. In the last 9 games or so you can see why I wanted those players at the football club" John O'Hara "Two great saves by John O' Hara. I said it before, I think he is probably the best goalkeeper in the country. Athleticly, distribution wise....It is our fourth clean sheet of the season so that’s not too bad" John Bellew "It's good for John Bellew. A young lad, another product of the youth system coming through. That’s Gary Curran, Sean Kelly, Jason Mc Cartney, John Bellew and Emlyn Mulligan who have all played in the 1st team so that’s decent. He didn't know he was in the squad until I took told him after an U18 game this morning. Maybe that was the best way to deal with it so he did'nt have to think about it. He looked sharp". Next up for Rovers is a trip to winless Bray Wanderers. The big question is how can Sean transfer the good work from last Saturday to Bray? "Easy" according to the man himself. "We just work hard and keep focused and take that attitude and character down to Bray and we should be ok" Bray Wanderers Vs Sligo Rovers Sunday May 21st 3:15pm by Rory Houston |
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