New Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins was keen to stress the collective effort his side put in when claiming their first Premier Division win of the season when accounting for Sligo Rovers on Saturday evening.

In a scrappy game, it was Will Patching's spot-kick early in the second half which decided the outcome, Rovers' first defeat of the year.

Higgins left Stephen Kenny's Ireland's coaching set-up to take the top post at the Brandywell and was heartened by what he saw on the Showgrounds pitch.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "It was a very good team performance. There weren't very many chances at either end but defensively I thought we were very good. We restricted them to limited chances. I hope we will improve in terms of our attacking play and keeping possession of the ball. To a man they carried the instruction and a gave a real gritty performance

"It's a huge win, it gets us up and running and gives the lads confidence that they deserve. In my brief time here they have taken on instructions very quickly and we've got a hell of a chance with these players. They have a hunger to win football matches."

Higgins, a former player with the Candystripes, said the opportunity to manage the club was just too good to turn down, while adding that Stephen Kenny, who also had a spell in charge of Derry, was only too delighted to grant him permission to take the post.

"It was very emotional taking the first team talk and I'm just delighted to be in the position. I left a brilliant job with the FAI but there was only one club I would have taken on at this point in my career and that this club.

"I owe the man (Kenny) so much. He has been amazing to me throughout my career as a player and a coach. I'm delighted he gave me the permission to take the job. Stephen has managed this club, he knows the size of it and he knows what the club means to me. He was very respectful, he didn't stand in my way. I can't thank him enough."

Higgins' opposite number Liam Buckley lamented his side's lack of a cutting edge up top as the Bit O Red tasted defeat for the first time this season.

Summing up the game, the Dubliner told RTÉ Sport: "We have given away a stupid penalty. They didn't have to do a lot to win the game. In the final third, our creativity, our crosses, our chances, well we need to do a lot better.

"I don't know whether it is fatigue, a third game in the week or players not keeping their positions, but we didn't do enough in the final third. In the first half in particular, we were very good at playing it out, but it's just that final third."