Russell delighted with Student's progress
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Following an entertaining encounter between UCD and St. Patrick's Athletic at the UCD Bowl on Monday night, manager Martin Russell emerged from the home dressing room and exhaled a huge sigh of relief.
"We got a valuable three points. You pick them up where you can in this league. It's so competitive. We are delighted with the result," Russell told Extratime.
When asked whether UCD are now title contenders, Martin Russell jokingly replied: "Ha,ha, no. We take points where we can get them. We can't pick and choose.
"We go to each game and try to be competitive, and give the lads the opportunity to play in this division. They respond ever so well. They are a great bunch of lads."
UCD's defence was excellent during the game and Russell believes it was their high levels of concentration that earned them a victory, along with David McMillan's match winning goal.
"I think the goal we created was a goal worthy of winning any game," he said.
"When we had to defend, as we did against Bohs the other night, we have shown determination, and concentration not to concede. They have been excellent."
The Students now have an impressive eight clean sheets in 11 games in the league this season. And their manager thinks that his team are relishing the challenge of playing in the top division.
"We will try and keep it going as long as possible. They are young lads, that will have to work ever so hard, they are trying to improve and they are seeing this Premier Division as a challenge to do that," he claimed.
Russell was full of praise for the goal scorer David McMillan on the night, commenting that the more experience he is getting in the league is really helping his game.
"Last year, we saw his first exposure to the League of Ireland, he has continued to grow since then, and it's good to see him getting on the score sheet. Dave finished it well, showing great composure. Good game, good goal," he said.
Four points from a busy bank holiday weekend makes for impressive reading for The Students. Up next is Bray Wanderers and Russell will not let complacency creep into his side after two fine back-to-back performances over the league's big hitters.
"You always try and ask the players for consistency. Sometimes there are dips, but we have to be focused against Bray and there are no easy games in this league," he warned.
"Bray will look at it as an opportunity at home to get some points, and we know we are going to be in for a game."
"We got a valuable three points. You pick them up where you can in this league. It's so competitive. We are delighted with the result," Russell told Extratime.
When asked whether UCD are now title contenders, Martin Russell jokingly replied: "Ha,ha, no. We take points where we can get them. We can't pick and choose.
"We go to each game and try to be competitive, and give the lads the opportunity to play in this division. They respond ever so well. They are a great bunch of lads."
UCD's defence was excellent during the game and Russell believes it was their high levels of concentration that earned them a victory, along with David McMillan's match winning goal.
"I think the goal we created was a goal worthy of winning any game," he said.
"When we had to defend, as we did against Bohs the other night, we have shown determination, and concentration not to concede. They have been excellent."
The Students now have an impressive eight clean sheets in 11 games in the league this season. And their manager thinks that his team are relishing the challenge of playing in the top division.
"We will try and keep it going as long as possible. They are young lads, that will have to work ever so hard, they are trying to improve and they are seeing this Premier Division as a challenge to do that," he claimed.
Russell was full of praise for the goal scorer David McMillan on the night, commenting that the more experience he is getting in the league is really helping his game.
"Last year, we saw his first exposure to the League of Ireland, he has continued to grow since then, and it's good to see him getting on the score sheet. Dave finished it well, showing great composure. Good game, good goal," he said.
Four points from a busy bank holiday weekend makes for impressive reading for The Students. Up next is Bray Wanderers and Russell will not let complacency creep into his side after two fine back-to-back performances over the league's big hitters.
"You always try and ask the players for consistency. Sometimes there are dips, but we have to be focused against Bray and there are no easy games in this league," he warned.
"Bray will look at it as an opportunity at home to get some points, and we know we are going to be in for a game."
