Hutton praises work ethic as Harps edge Athlone
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League positions in the First Division might very well prove immaterial if the Airtricity League decides to implement a new one-tier Premier Division for next season but try tell that to Peter Hutton.
The Harps boss has his sights fixed solely on finishing in fourth place – the highest they can mathematically achieve – and Saturday night’s 2-0 win over their main challengers for the position was certainly huge in that regard.
“We knew it was going to be a very competitive game because they came into it joint level with ourselves in fourth place. We didn’t get much off them this season but we’re delighted to get the three points and I think it was full deserved,” said Hutton, after his side extended their unbeaten run to nine games with their first win of the season against the Midlanders.
“If anything we probably could’ve got another couple of goals but, I mean, it was nice to keep a clean-sheet too,” he added.
Hutton believes their recent run of form has been built on a bedrock of hard work from everyone in the squad.
And although the breakthrough goal by Paul McVeigh came from an Athlone mistake, Hutton highlighted the harrowing done by his skipper Kevin McHugh in the lead up to the goal.
He said: “To be fair, I think we worked for it because Kevin went and closed the full-back down and put him under pressure very early and rushed him into the miscued pass. Paul was there in the right place and put it away very well.
“He’s (McVeigh) done extremely well. He took his chance at the Brandywell and hasn’t looked back really. He’s full of energy, full of running. He’s a credit to himself, as are the rest of the guys because they’ve put in a lot of hard work.
“We’re very much built on having a good work ethic. We’re a lot more organised and determined all over the park and you can see now that the confidence is up with this wee run we’ve got going.
“We’ve got a bit of competition for places now too which is something we’ve been crying out for a long time.”
Hutton was quizzed if he ever accumulated a nine-game unbeaten run during his storied career with Derry City and although he answered the question he quickly switched his attentions back to Harps.
He commented: “We did but I’m not going down that road. I’m just delighted that we’re continuing our good run here. Hopefully we can keep it going, although we don’t have a game this weekend. We’re back the following weekend away to Wexford Youths and that’s sure to be a tough game because they’re hovering just below us.
“Over the years, Wexford has generally proven a difficult place to go so it’s important that we don’t take the foot off the gas now.”
