Luck a big factor for Sligo's Cook
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Paul Cook spoke to ExtraTime.ie following his team's win against St
Patrick's Athletic on Saturday evening, a win that sees his Sligo
Rovers side climb to second in the Aitricity Premier Division and
trailing Shamrock Rovers only on goal difference.
After struggling in the opening twenty minutes Cook's side finally created a foothold in the game and went on to score two goals through Alan Kirby. "In the first twenty minutes of the game Pats gave us the run around completely. They could have been one or two goals up comfortably", Cook said of the Saints early pressure and he was keen to reference the bit of luck on display that The Bit O' Red availed of.
"I think luck plays a big part in football, people say you've only conceded one goal, and that you defend well and this that and the other, you need a bit of luck, every team needs a bit of luck in football, things are going our way at the minute".
Once the foothold had been created however Sligo never looked back and looked like the more dangerous side for the remainder of the encounter but Gary Rogers in the Pats goal performed admirably and averted many efforts before the deadlock was broken. "It took us twenty minutes to settle down into the game, but after that I think we played really well. To be fair, their 'keeper (Rogers) has made a couple of absolutely smashing saves...but we started to press them and started to get to grips with the game and I thought we deservedly won."
Cook has testified of late to the quality of the squad he has assembled at The Showgrounds, a point he wished to vent further, particularly after seeing Daryl Horgan play a decisive role after his introduction. "It helps when you've got substitutes that can come on and change the game".
The Rovers manager flexed his muscles of humility however regarding his interference with events on the pitch and his timely introductions. Joseph Ndo and Rafael Cretaro saw game time, and helped quell the Pats late challenge. "Great substitution, next week it's a bad one, you make changes because you think it's right, no-one is that clever, we've got a good squad with lads who want to play football. When the game is 0-0 it's down to the manager to make some positive changes."
Kirby was the man of the hour on Saturday evening with two excellent goals that decided the encounter, Cook was pleased to see the goal scoring burden shared amongst the team "John Dillon carried us for four games, he's scored four goals, he's got us a lot of points, tonight's it's Alan Kirby's night and hopefully next week it'll be someone else's."
Jason McGuinness hobbled off with a few minutes remaining as he seemed to go over on his knee, Cook wasn't too sure about the seriousness of the injury: "He's had a bang, we'll have a look at it tomorrow and see how he is, but obviously we have Gavin Peers back on Monday from suspension, so we'll just have a look at at that tomorrow (selection options) and see how it is."
Cook wrote in his programme notes of the 'heightened expectancy' around The Showgrounds given the sides success last year but he is keeping his, and his players feet firmly on the ground.
After struggling in the opening twenty minutes Cook's side finally created a foothold in the game and went on to score two goals through Alan Kirby. "In the first twenty minutes of the game Pats gave us the run around completely. They could have been one or two goals up comfortably", Cook said of the Saints early pressure and he was keen to reference the bit of luck on display that The Bit O' Red availed of.
"I think luck plays a big part in football, people say you've only conceded one goal, and that you defend well and this that and the other, you need a bit of luck, every team needs a bit of luck in football, things are going our way at the minute".
Once the foothold had been created however Sligo never looked back and looked like the more dangerous side for the remainder of the encounter but Gary Rogers in the Pats goal performed admirably and averted many efforts before the deadlock was broken. "It took us twenty minutes to settle down into the game, but after that I think we played really well. To be fair, their 'keeper (Rogers) has made a couple of absolutely smashing saves...but we started to press them and started to get to grips with the game and I thought we deservedly won."
Cook has testified of late to the quality of the squad he has assembled at The Showgrounds, a point he wished to vent further, particularly after seeing Daryl Horgan play a decisive role after his introduction. "It helps when you've got substitutes that can come on and change the game".
The Rovers manager flexed his muscles of humility however regarding his interference with events on the pitch and his timely introductions. Joseph Ndo and Rafael Cretaro saw game time, and helped quell the Pats late challenge. "Great substitution, next week it's a bad one, you make changes because you think it's right, no-one is that clever, we've got a good squad with lads who want to play football. When the game is 0-0 it's down to the manager to make some positive changes."
Kirby was the man of the hour on Saturday evening with two excellent goals that decided the encounter, Cook was pleased to see the goal scoring burden shared amongst the team "John Dillon carried us for four games, he's scored four goals, he's got us a lot of points, tonight's it's Alan Kirby's night and hopefully next week it'll be someone else's."
Jason McGuinness hobbled off with a few minutes remaining as he seemed to go over on his knee, Cook wasn't too sure about the seriousness of the injury: "He's had a bang, we'll have a look at it tomorrow and see how he is, but obviously we have Gavin Peers back on Monday from suspension, so we'll just have a look at at that tomorrow (selection options) and see how it is."
Cook wrote in his programme notes of the 'heightened expectancy' around The Showgrounds given the sides success last year but he is keeping his, and his players feet firmly on the ground.
