'Embarrassed' Russell moves to defend Sligo Rovers players despite 7-0 drubbing in Drogheda

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell has moved to defend his players despite a 7-0 defeat to Drogheda United last Friday night.

The Bit O' Red were the form team in the Premier Division before exiting the FAI Cup to UCD and then capitulating in Drogheda.

Russell was finishing a three-man ban for the fixture, meaning he could only watch along in the stands as Sligo fell to the second heaviest defeat in their history.

The Rovers boss issued a statement this afternoon admitting "anger, frustration, embarrassment" at his team’s display.

He said: "It was a shocking performance and result last Friday night. There is no other way to describe it.

"Football is an emotional game. The psychology of dealing with pressure is a skill that players and staff continually refine.

"As I sat in the stands last Friday night with our head strength and conditioning coach Tom French, I was filled with lots of emotions. Probably the same emotions of all our away fans and our supporters tuning in on LOITV. Anger, frustration, embarrassment.

"In the aftermath of these difficult moments, it is my job as manager to take a step back and take an objective view. Analyse what happened, learn from it, help the players and staff and move forward.

"We have the youngest squad in the league. They are learning the game while also learning about themselves. I believe you only truly learn about yourself in tough moments or in tough times. It tests your character, and it can allow you to build your resilience."

Russell said he felt his players did not hide away in the aftermath of the game as he looks for a response in next Saturday’s clash with Waterford.

It pits together the sides in third and fourth in the tables with the Blues also suffering some setbacks recently