Kenny: ‘Fans entitled to give us stick’

Rovers, champions for two years running, find themselves five points behind leaders Sligo Rovers after successive league draws against Bray Wanderers, Derry City and UCD, and the Hoops players were booed off at the end of Friday’s 2-2 draw with the Students.

“I have no complaints about that, people pay their money and they are entitled to say what they want,” says Kenny, who now has to raise his players for a massive test away to Sligo on Saturday. “Everyone has their own opinion and they are entitled to voice it. If you throw away a two-goal lead you deserve a little bit of criticism, you have to accept that.

“It’s a real blow so we have to get back and get ready for the Sligo game. It was a big game anyway, regardless of last Friday's results. It only marks the end of the first series of games, there is a lot of football to be played,” added Kenny.

Baraclough to shake up Sligo

SLIGO ROVERS manager Ian Baraclough is delighted with his side's start to the season as they hold a four-point lead at the top of the Premier Division table.

But Baraclough still plans to invest in his squad over the summer now that the English league season is almost over.

Sligo maintained their good run with a 3-1 win over an in-form Drogheda United on Friday night, teeing them up for a massive game at home to champions Shamrock Rovers next Saturday.

“People in England are now coming out of contract so I will have to go and see what transpires,” he says. “I am not going to name names in any area but everyone knows that centre half is an area where we only have two players.

“We do need to add, but people are saying we need five or six players to improve, and I don't think so. I think we need one or two, maybe three at most,” added Baraclough, who plans to check out Ireland U19 cap Ryan Connolly, who has just been released by Derby County.

- AIDAN FITZMAURICE