We played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Derry City last Sunday. Coming from 2-0 and 3-1 down, were you happy to go home with a point?
“Really happy to be honest, after Thursday in Finland and the week we had, the travel, an early kick off in Derry on Sunday. That would’ve been the thought process so for the players to come back and get that point, we’re more than happy.”
We could have won it at the death but Will Fitzgerald was denied by a brilliant save by the Derry keeper in added time. How much did that tell us that the team wasn’t settling for a point even after drawing level late on?
“They never do. We go out to win games, always have and always will. In terms of the players, that’s the mentality. We spoke about still winning the game at half time (at 1-3 down), not just about coming back and drawing. The players’ response was brilliant and only for that save at the end, we do win the game. So they showed real grit and character to come back.”
You were quite vocal after the Derry game about some comments after our European exit that the criticism of the group was unfair or misplaced given what they have achieved in recent years.
“I think the players have a little more credit in the bank than that. I think people have short memories and become flippant with success and that’s dangerous. You can’t become flippant with success. We’re all disappointed, but what happened has happened, it’s life. So, for me, getting that emotional reaction to results, has no place around us.”
We welcome Shelbourne to Tallaght tomorrow with tickets selling really well for this game. John Russell is now the manager and his football philosophy should help make it an open and entertaining game tomorrow.
“It will. Shels are a good team, we know that and they have alot of good players. They’re always good games between us, it’s a Dublin derby and should be a big crowd. So it has the makings to be a really good game. I don’t expect it to be anything else.”
We had two players exiting at the end of the transfer window. Maleace Asamoah’s loan spell ended and our young goalkeeper Alex Noonan has joined EPL’s Ipswich Town, so we wish both well.
“Maleace’s situation was a tricky one for some weeks. He was fit but we couldn’t really play him because Wigan were in the process of selling him a few times. They have now sold him to Port Vale, initially a loan with an obligation to buy, but we wish Maleace well, it was just a tricky one. He’s a good fellow, worked and trained hard but then his injury here hurt him, but we wish Maleace well.
With Alex, he’s been with us a long time (6 years), if he stays away from injuries, he has a really good chance of being a top goalkeeper. We rate him very highly. Alex and his family have been a pleasure to deal with all the way through, how they trusted us as a club with his development, signing a long-term deal and committing to us. He trusted that we would do right by the club and by Alex. That’s all you can ask for. So Alex and his parents have been a pleasure to deal with and he’ll always be Rovers and I’m sure we’ll see him back at Tallaght Stadium. We wish him nothing but success and health going forward.”
Dan Cleary and John McGovern made welcome returns in Derry last Sunday. Did they fare ok and anyone else due to return or out injured?
“Dan and John were fine, came through it well and have trained all week which is great. Pico Lopes is back after suspension. Jonathan Afolabi is back, he got a kick in the KuPS game and missed Derry, but he’s available again. Danny Grant and Victor Ozhianvuna remain out, we hope to know more about Victor next week.”
