Baraclough describes win as patchy

Sligo Rovers moved a step closer towards a first League title in 35 years when they recorded a 3-1 victory over Bohemians in The Showgrounds on Monday night. However, manager Ian Baraclough felt it was a patchy performance and the second half was somewhat of a let down.

"It was a patchy performance. Very good in places, below standard in others, but I always felt it was going to be difficult coming into half-time 3-0 up. I still don't think we hit the heights of the first half. Players were running with the ball rather than passing it, we were trying to get one too many passes in midfield rather than moving it quickly, moving it wide, getting it into front men playing off there. 

"The second half we got into a mode where we felt as if we'd done enough I felt, I was saying to some of them I was a bit bored in the second half, there was no spark. We could have been caught on several occasions and that was a lesson to us that you can't drop your standards at anytime, whether you've got a 3-0 lead or not so that could have been better, but at the start of the night we wanted three points, so we take them and that's what we've gone and done."

With Ross Gaynor suspended and Romauld Boco departing the club, Baraclough had to put Seamus Conneely and Pascal Millien, two naturally right sided players, on the left but he was never worried of a potential weakness being exposed and the fact they were already building a partnership on the left helped with them adapting to their roles on the night.

"No I thought Seamus (Conneely) came in there and looked as if he had played there the majority of his career. I put Pascal (Millien) on the left as well because he likes coming in on his right foot as well as going down the outside and Seamus and Pascal have played together on the right for the last few games anyway so I just thought it was a natural partnership."

Mark Quigley was on target once again on Monday night, as were Rafael Cretaro and Lee Lynch. Baraclough was delighted for Cretaro in particular who he had been encouraging to shoot more often.

"Great header, wasn't it? People might think that's not a strong part of his (Quigley's) game but he met it well and directed it into the corner. With Raff (Cretaro), I've been telling him to pull the trigger a little bit more and tonight he backed himself and tonight you never know, greasy surface, mistakes from the 'keeper and all of a sudden he's got another goal to his name and he maybe could have had one or two more.

"Then with Lee (Lynch), I was delighted with his energy and his forward running and again he finished with aplomb that was very similar to the one in Drogheda in the EA Sports Cup, so I'm pleased with that."

Lee Lynch started Monday's game in place of David Cawley, and his manager believes the way he's forced himself back into the starting line-up for the game was a prime example of his determination and quality. Ian also touched on the improvement's of his squad lately, comparing the squad he had the last time the League leaders faced Bohemians to the one he has now.

"Tonight was a prime example. He played the first 11 or 12 games, then has maybe sat on the bench for a fair while and wondering why. I speak to them all about different issues about themselves so you know he's gone away, he's worked at stuff, he's never let his head drop and he's plugged away, he's got his chance and he's taken his chance, hasn't he?

"We went to the Bohs game before the break and I've highlighted it before, I had no real options, I had a few injuries and suspensions that meant there were several Under 19s on the bench and then all of a sudden you've got options tonight where you have players who aren't getting game time, they're disappointed not too, and they're quality players that are sat on the bench."