John Russell says his Sligo Rovers side will take confidence from a really impressive performance at Richmond Park despite late heartbreak for the Bit O’Red against a strong St Patrick’s Athletic.

Rovers were the better of the two sides in the first half and created opportunities through Daire Patton, Gareth McElroy and Mai Traore, the latter of whom enjoyed what were some of his best moments in Rovers gear to date. 

However, the Saints did have the majority of the opportunities in the second period and won this game courtesy of goals in the third and fifth minute of added time at the death. And although defeat was harsh on Rovers whose stellar effort wasn’t rewarded, the hosts were value for their victory. 

Despite again being without his full complement, Russell was greatly enthused by his side’s showing and praised his players’ reaction to the previous week’s pasting in Waterford. 

“We’re gutted to concede two late goals”, he reflected. 

“I felt we were brave both in and out of possession and were excellent to a man. I thought it wouldn’t have flattered us had we been two up at half-time. Daire and Mai both had great chances and we might have had a penalty had things gone our way. We put plenty of pressure on their goal and we were happy with the performance. 

“We soaked up a lot of pressure in the second half and had a few chances on the break. We are performance driven and the group have shown an unbelievable response from last week. We’ve come up to face a really strong Pat’s who are chasing for a title. It would have been easy for us to sit back and sit in, but we were brave and passed the ball through them. That’s where our chances came from.”

After two weekends on the east coast, Rovers now look forward to a duo of games on home soil against Shels and Shamrock Rovers. 

Russell believes he saw enough in Inchicore on Friday night to suggest his team has it in them to pick up results. 

“For 92 minutes, we were brilliant but I’m hoping we can see out the game after that and unfortunately we just didn’t have enough”, he said. 

“We executed our game plan so well and we have to take confidence from that going into two big games at home. Anyone here tonight would say we were unlucky not to come away with something.” 

David Goulden