Sligo Rovers will face Galway United tonight( Tuesday) in the League Cup but before that game takes centre stage Paul Cook gives his thought on the 3-2 win over Shamrock Rovers.

A sublime first half performance and a Rommy Boco wonder strike saw The Bit O’Red with a three goal cushion and the game looked to be over as a contest. Shamrock Rovers hit back with two late goals but Cook doesn’t think it took the gloss of the win

 
“No, not at all. We came under heavy pressure second half and we defended really well. Really, really well- to a man. They were very brave and resilient. In the end you always felt Shamrock would get something. When the ball goes in your box that many times you feel like something will drop and it did. Shamrock dominated the game for long spells in the second half but first half we were terrific. We scored good goals, we can still be better on the ball in the second half. When we come under the pressure the best way to relieve it is to keep the ball and we didn’t keep that well enough.”

He added: “I’m very critical of our team a lot of the time but I am not going to be tonight (Saturday). We worked hard, it is a fantastic win and it is fantastic night for everyone connected with the club.”

The win put Cook’s side only three points off second in the league and there is great excitement at the current run of form.

“Tonight is good for us. We are delighted with the win. It puts us in a good position in the league. We go down to Cork on Friday with a smile on our face and we go there to attack and have a go.”

Anto Murphy started in the centre of midfield, replacing Conor O’ Grady. Cook was delighted with his performance.

“Fantastic, he was terrific. To be fair to Anto it is the first performance we have had from him. That is the truth. I speak to Anto at length. He has moved up from Dublin, we haven’t seen a lot from the lad as a player yet. But I think everyone saw what there really is in that lad.”

A large crowd witnessed the win and the atmosphere was electric at times in The Showgrounds. Cook longs for it to a consistent factor in what we hopes will be a successful campaign.

“It was pleasing tonight to get a big crowd in. That is what we have been saying for a long time now, if you are to be successful in this league we have to generate money through the turnstiles. We have to. Because we are all looking at windows now and seeing what we can do. If we don’t get big support we cannot go forward- it is as simple as that and it is not anyone’s fault.”

 
Rovers now take on Galway United tonight with the goal of reaching the quarter final of the eircom League of Ireland Cup.

“We need a massive crowd for the Galway game don’t we? It takes the pressure off us all. We need to get behind the team and get behind the club and say ‘yeah we are doing alright’. If we all get on with each other and we all work for the same goal, then we have a great chance of being successful.”

Sligo Rovers v Galway United. Tonight (Tuesday May 6th) Kick off 8pm