| Connor is relishing a return to Premier Division action |
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| Thursday, 22 June 2006 | |
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SLIGO Rovers return to action this Friday after a three-weeks break, and manager Sean Connor is dealing with almost a full hand for the first time since the start of the season.
By Daragh Cox, Courtesy of The Sligo Weekender Ahead of Rovers trip to Dalymount Park to take on Bohemians this Friday, Connor has only got an injury worry over Sean Flannery, who picked up a facial injury in the eircom League Cup defeat to Finn Harps, with everyone reporting back from the break with a clean bill of health. Connor said: “The game may be too soon for Sean [Flannery] but I hope to have him back by the start of July. He will be a great addition to us and he is a player I have a lot of respect for. He works hard and sometimes is a bit too hard on himself, but he has bought into my ethos at the club.” “I am really looking forward to getting back into it. Before the break I wasn’t too happy about it [the break] but the atmosphere since I have come back has been great. I think players needed it and I needed it and it was a good chance for us to recharge the batteries.” Rovers welcome Gavin Peers back into the side after he was suspended in the last game against Longford Town, and Connor admits that competition for starting places will be high but that he still feels his thin squad needs strengthening in the July transfer window. “The competition for places is good for Friday. The strikers are all getting goals and there has always been good competition for places in midfield but I would still like to get in one or two more experienced guys. We have a lot of young players.” “I have targeted players and met with them and the players are available. I feel that with a couple of more players we might even be able to squeeze into the top four.” Connor says he is expecting a huge turnout for the visit of title-challengers Derry City to The Showgrounds on Monday next, but hopes to be entering that game on the back of a good result against Bohs. “I think any team in the Premier Division is beatable but they [Bohemians] are a bit of a wounded lion at the moment. They are under a bit of pressure from their own fans despite being only a point behind us in the table.” “If we could go there and win it would take us four points clear of them and that would be fantastic, but I am expecting a tough game. “Of all the teams we have met so far I think that Derry City were really the only team that gave us a bit of a spanking.” “But I loved it up there [Brandywell Stadium]. There was a fantastic atmosphere and hopefully we can show Derry that Sligo can be just as good for atmosphere. It is a north-west derby and it is a great opportunity for the clubs to put the standard of football in the area in the best light.” |
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