| Connor happy with 'professional performance' |
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| Monday, 10 July 2006 | |
 Following the 2-0 win versus Dublin City in the Showgrounds last Friday night manager Sean Connor described it as "a professional performance" and was happy to cut the gap to 5th place back to a point.
"It was important to get back with a win. It was always going to be a tough game; they are a decent, strong side. It wasn't a very exciting game but it was a professional performance". He added, "we hadn't beaten Dublin City since I have been here. Dermot Keely is a manager that I have a lot of respect for; he has been very helpful to me. It is nice to get one over on him!” It is now a year since Rovers last lost a home league game, but away from home this season the form isn't as impressive, though Connor is defensive on the matter. "The only bad performances we have had away from home is when we play 3 games in 7 days and I think any team struggles with that. We only played badly against Cork and Derry.” Rovers have the 3rd youngest squad in the Premier Division so to see the way the team controlled the game in the 2nd half and not allowing Dublin City to get forward could only be admired. Connor had this to say on it. "When you are 2-0 up all you have to do is play percentage football. We didn't have to chase the game or send our full backs forward and that is what he did. We were very professional in the 2nd half." Matthew Judge was awarded the honour of Man of the Match. It did baffle some of the home support but there is no doubting Judge's contribution to the display, playing a part in both goals. His manager had this to say on him. "Matthew Judge is a very good player - he probably should be playing in England. He knows what he has got to do to improve and it is up to him. I have told him what he needs to do for me to pick him." Two other displays, which stood out, were those of goal scorer Gary Curran and stand-in left back Chris Turner. Sean was full of praise for the pair: "Chris Turner did very well at left back considering he is a centre midfield player but he is a good quality player so he can play there. For me Gary Curran was Man of the Match, he set the tempo of the game with his first tackle, broke things up and got forward well, scoring a great goal." The only concerning issue coming from Friday's game was an injury to the in-form Paul McTiernan. His manager Sean Connor gave an early assessment of the injury. "He has twisted his [ankle] ligaments. We will give it a couple of days to go down and then get him x-rayed but I don't think there is any major damage, just a bad ligament twist." The introduction of Friday night football was a big talking point among the supports at the game but for Sean "it is no different to Saturday night football." “I'm happy to play Friday, I’m happy to play Saturday. If the team is winning I'm happy to play Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday, I don't care. “I don't think the crowd has been affected, it looked like an average crowd tonight." Next up for Rovers competitively is a trip to the RSC to play bottom of the table Waterford United. Rovers may be boosted by the return of fans favourite Keith Foy from the injury which kept him out of the previous game and Connor also revealed that Harpel Singh and Seamus Coleman may debut versus Peterborough in a friendly in the Showgrounds Monday evening, with the Waterford fixture hopefully in mind for Singh’s competitive debut. Waterford's poor form will make Rovers firm favourites to win the game but nothing will change for the Belfast native. “We prepare for Waterford like we prepare for any game. It would be nice to get another win but it is important we do not get beaten. There are no easy games in the league." |
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