Danny Mandroiu: ‘I think that was a big statement beating Pats’

Danny Mandroiu: 'We don’t believe we can lose a game'

Danny Mandroiu: 'We don’t believe we can lose a game' Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Rónán MacNamara reports from Richmond Park

Danny Mandroiu’s injury time goal was enough to give Shamrock Rovers all three points in a 2-1 win over St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park. It extended the Champions’ lead at the top of the Premier Division to five points.

“I just pounced on the loose touch by him (Lee Desmond) and put the burners on. I was hoping the goal would go in and luckily it did so I’m delighted,” said Mandroiu about his fourth goal of the season speaking to extratime.com after the game.

It was the fifth game this season that Rovers have scored late on to grab a draw or a win from a game. The result also extended their record breaking unbeaten run to 32 games, having gone the previous season unbeaten.

Mandroiu put this down to the immense belief that is in the dressing room.

“We don’t believe we can lose a game. We want to go unbeaten for the whole season, the character in the dressing room is unbelievable so we’re looking to build on that win and go into Derry next week,” he said.

The match was an evenly contested contest affair between the top two sides which saw Chris Forrester put the Athletic up early in the game before Graham Burke equalised just before half time. 

Mandroiu’s late winner now puts daylight between Rovers and the rest of the league, something that was not lost on the former Bohemians player.

“I think that was a big statement beating Pats but it’s a long season. We can’t get too carried away but it’s another win, another win on the road, so we’ll bounce into the Derry game full of confidence.”

The match was played at an intense pace as expected with any derby game but Mandroiu was able to find an extra gear to press Lee Desmond and win the ball and ultimately break away to score the winning goal.



He reckons that is due to the fitness within the squad.

“I’ve never felt as fit before. We do a lot of strength and conditioning work in training and we did in the offseason so that built up my fitness so I feel very fit.” 

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