Ruaidhri Higgins thrilled with Pat Hoban debut in defeat at Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers 5

Derry City 4

Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins was thrilled with the debut of Pat Hoban in which the striker scored two goals in a frenetic game at the Sligo Showgrounds. 

The striker came off the bench in the second half and scored twice and missed a penalty as City came from 4-1 down to level before conceding another late on to lose the game. 

Ellis Chapman scored a hat trick for the home side who raced into a 4-1 lead early in the second half, with City's only response coming from Michael Duffy in the first period. 

Hoban and Daniel Kelly both came off the bench and both had an impact, scoring their first goals for the club as the Candystripes fought back to 4-4. But an effort from outside the area by Owen Elding ultimately won an enjoyable friendly game. 

"You seen Pat's hold up play, his hunger, his desire, and he showed his leadership qualities," Higgins said afterwards. "He got two chances and he's buried them, and he's had an overhead kick cleared off the line and he's missed a penalty so he could have had four but we'll take two and it's a great start for him and it looks like he has got the bit between his teeth." 

On conceding five goals, Higgins said:

"The five goals we gave away; every single one of them came from us being in complete control of possession, then sloppy passes and we got punished for them," he reflected. "We've obviously had a really good defensive record for the past few years so it's unlike us, but it's learning as well, and we have to be tidier in possession of the ball. You never, ever want to concede that amount of goals in a game, but it's basic mistakes and it's mistakes we haven't been used to making. The goals haven't been from them cutting us open, it's from us being a wee bit too loose in possession.

"There's a lot of learning in it to be fair but there's a lot of stiff we're quite happy with as well. We have another five games at least and I'm sure everyone will get plenty of minutes before the big kick-off."

City are next in action at Glenavon on Tuesday night.