Ryan praises Sligo's mean defense
Credit:
Sligo Rovers captain Richie Ryan spoke of expectations at the Showgrounds when ExtraTime.ie caught up with him following the Bit O'Reds
victory against the Airtricity League champions on Friday night. Goals from Gavin Peers and Eoin Doyle saw Sligo defeat the Hoops at the fifth time of asking this season.
Following Doyle's late goal the signs of elation were palpable as players, staff and supporters mobbed the in-form striker but Ryan was more pragmatic concerning the evening events, "We're happy yeah, because they beat us four times this year, we wanted to get the monkey off our back more than anything. It's only three points and we're not going to get carried away."
Throughout the contest Sligo dominated the possession and kept another clean sheet, their eight in the past nine fixtures. Ryan spoke of the initiative displayed in the Sligo midfield and the intention not to allow any time for the Hoops midfield, "We were at it from the go, we dominated the game more so than Shamrock Rovers, we didn't give them a second on the ball and that's why we got the result that we did. We've only conceded ten goals all season, that's credit to the whole team, the way we defend. They've only had a couple of efforts on goal, which isn't bad against a team of that is top of the table (Before kick-off) ."
Speaking before the EA Sports Cup encounter with Shelbourne on Monday night, recuperation was the ethos after a testing week on the legs, "We've had three games in the last week, it takes its toll on the legs everybody will be a little bit tired but we'll be in again over the weekend preparing for Shels in the League Cup on Monday night"
The win puts Sligo right back into the title hunt in third place, a position Ryan understands as a minimum expectation at the club. "That (to be in title contention) was our aim at the start of the season."
Monday night's EA Sports Cup encounter kicks off at 20.00 at Tolka Park.
Following Doyle's late goal the signs of elation were palpable as players, staff and supporters mobbed the in-form striker but Ryan was more pragmatic concerning the evening events, "We're happy yeah, because they beat us four times this year, we wanted to get the monkey off our back more than anything. It's only three points and we're not going to get carried away."
Throughout the contest Sligo dominated the possession and kept another clean sheet, their eight in the past nine fixtures. Ryan spoke of the initiative displayed in the Sligo midfield and the intention not to allow any time for the Hoops midfield, "We were at it from the go, we dominated the game more so than Shamrock Rovers, we didn't give them a second on the ball and that's why we got the result that we did. We've only conceded ten goals all season, that's credit to the whole team, the way we defend. They've only had a couple of efforts on goal, which isn't bad against a team of that is top of the table (Before kick-off) ."
Speaking before the EA Sports Cup encounter with Shelbourne on Monday night, recuperation was the ethos after a testing week on the legs, "We've had three games in the last week, it takes its toll on the legs everybody will be a little bit tired but we'll be in again over the weekend preparing for Shels in the League Cup on Monday night"
The win puts Sligo right back into the title hunt in third place, a position Ryan understands as a minimum expectation at the club. "That (to be in title contention) was our aim at the start of the season."
Monday night's EA Sports Cup encounter kicks off at 20.00 at Tolka Park.
