Sligo Rovers captain Kyle Callan-McFadden says his side are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of Monday's defeat to Cork City with a positive result against St Patrick's Athletic this Friday night. The Bit O'Red were made stumble twice
Sligo Rovers captain Kyle Callan-McFadden says his side are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of Monday's defeat to Cork City with a positive result against St Patrick's Athletic this Friday night.
The Bit O'Red were made stumble twice before they could stand in the shape of early goals from Graham Cummins and former player Kieran Sadlier. A mis-placed pass from the Rovers skipper straight after the re-start gifted Cummins his brace.
Sligo were offered a pathway back into the game on the hour when Adam Morgan dispatched his penalty. But the north westerners had Rhys McCabe dismissed late on before Cummins grabbed his hat-trick and City's fourth late on.
Speaking after the game, Callan-McFadden said the result only makes his Sligo side more determined to take something from Inchicore later this week.
"It's certainly a winnable one from our perspective and we'll go there looking to take a point at least", he affirmed. "The Derry game has been and gone but we've shown how we can play in that game. I think on Monday we maybe showed Cork too much respect. Obviously they're champions but it just wasn't good enough from our point of view.
"When you're two goals down to the champions so early it's difficult because you've a huge hill to climb. Our game plan changed almost straight away and you're trying to get as many people forward as possible."
Rovers have taken just three points from as many outings this term but Callan-McFadden is keen to move on ahead of Rovers' first visit to the capital.
"It's only early in the season but it's disappointing to lose, concede four goals at home and finish with ten men. As captain, you need to get the boys' heads up again, go to the next one and try and get a result in Dublin on Friday."
The Ramelton native was one of the Rovers' stand-out performers during what was a difficult 2017 for Sligo. This played a telling part in manager Ger Lyttle's decision to award Kyle the club captaincy in just his second season at the club.
The former Norwich defender says he's thriving in the role.
"Being captain is an honour for me. The gaffer pulled me in during pre-season and told me he wanted me to take it over because I stepped up when we had a few injuries towards the end of last year. I'm enjoying it and the responsibility that comes with it."
A busy winter period saw Rovers bring in no less than ten new additions to the first team squad. The latest recruit to make his debut was Kilmarnock loanee Calum Waters who replaced Callan-McFadden's centre half partner Seamus Sharkey at the break last Monday.
Kyle says that despite it being early in their Rovers careers, each player has settled in well in their new surroundings on the Atlantic coast.
"They've been good and to be fair to them they've fitted in straight away. Having them join us gives the team a lift. Calum's had a chance to have a sniff at what the league is like on Monday after Seamus went off. We try different things in training all the time so it was comfortable enough slotting in beside him."
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