Baraclough praises players work-rate

Sligo Rovers were denied the chance to move four points clear at the top on Saturday night as Graham Rusk's last gasp equaliser secured a point for Drogheda United in the sides 2-2 draw.

Speaking to the assembled press after the game, Sligo Rovers boss Ian Baraclough credited the work rate of his players.

"Any goal in the last few seconds hurts but to get ourselves in that position first and foremost is a credit to lads and the amount of work they put in this evening. We kept asking questions and eventually the goals came but we didn't quite have the nails to see the game out."

On Ross Gaynor's sending off, Baraclough was made aware that his player had made a gesture towards Drogheda United fans but he has his doubts as to whether a straight red card was a fair punishment.

"I can only tell you what was said to me which is that Ross gestured to their crowd who were giving him stick all night which is fine but you can't react to it. I don't know what sort of gesture it was, but I also don't know if that's a booking or a straight sending off, I would love to see the rulebook just to check that."

Anthony Elding recently praised Rafael Cretaro as his main point of service this season, but Ian feels that Gaynor proved in Cretaro's absence that he is just as capable of providing crosses for the striker as the combined for a goal on the night.

"I think its coincidental that most of Anthony's goals have come from Raff's area, but we certainly put balls in from the left as well as the right and as you seen from Ross Gaynor tonight for the first goal, that was as good a cross as you are going to see at any level of the game."

Although Shamrock Rovers go into this game off the back of a poor start to the season, Baraclough will not be taking them lightly. Two days later, his side begins their second series of games with an eye catching top of the table encounter with Derry City.

"No one is going to take them lightly, that's for sure. They will be hurt by the start they have made and they would have expected better but they are a team full of individuals who can turn a game and no one is going to write them off.

"We have played Derry once of course and I have seen them a couple of times and when they have everyone fit they are picking up results because they are a solid squad.

"I also look at St. Pats, Cork City, Limerick and Drogheda United among others who are capable of winning this League and I said from the start we wouldn't run away with it."