Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins praised his side's dogged perseverance after their dramatic win against St Pat's on Friday night, and said they'll need a few more late, late shows if they're to challenge for the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title.
In a cagey affair at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Pat Hoban cancelled out Ruairi Keating's fine opener, before substitute Danny Mullen scored a tremendous 92nd-minute winner.
Afterwards a thrilled and relieved Higgins paid tribute to his players, while acknowledging it had not been a vintage performance.
'Perseverance and resilience got us over the line' - @derrycityfc boss Ruaidhrí Higgins on an improved second-half showing that saw his side get the victory over @stpatsfc #loi #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/F3mwQw4GGQ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 1, 2024
"We had to show resilience because for the first hour of the game or so our play wasn't good, particularly with the ball," he told RTÉ Sport.
"In turn, we were two strides out of possession as well, because we were giving up possession far too easily. But the changes made a huge contribution in the game. Pat [Hoban] gets a big goal, as he does, and we got momentum from that and went on to win it.
"It's perseverance and resilience that got us over the line. It's a big three points.
"I felt we finished the game strongly. If we're going to do anything this year we need to be getting late goals and picking up points at home. Thankfully we've done that."
Saints manager Jon Daly was reluctant to criticise his charges after what he believed was a good showing.
Pat's had a golden chance to go ahead in the closing stages, but instead got stung by the hosts in the last meaningful attack of the game.
"I've been at the club just over two years now and I think that's the best I've seen us play up here," Daly said.
"Obviously we're very disappointed not to win the game. I can't be frustrated with the perfomance, I thought we played really well.
💬 "I've been at the club just over two years now and I think that's the best I've seen us play up here (at the Brandywell)"@stpatsfc boss Jon Daly reacts to his side's late, late loss at Derry City tonight
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 1, 2024
Report: https://t.co/RvKA94ZVYH pic.twitter.com/u2zIJ8K7RK
"Small margins. Chris [Forrester] has a great chance down one end and they manage to get a block, it comes out to Luke Turner and he flashed one past the post, and then they go down the other end and manage to finish their chance.
"It's a tough one to take but we need to dust ourselves down and go again Monday [when they face Waterford]."
