O'Neill puts title talk on hold
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Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill kept his team inside the dressing room for 35 minutes after Rovers second consecutive home defeat against Dundalk on Sunday evening.
The Hoops boss was unhappy at his team’s performance as they were beaten 2-0 by Ian Foster’s Dundalk side thanks to goals from Neale Fenn and Stephen Maher.
"We’ve been beaten 2-0 at home. I’m disappointed with the performance, disappointed with the result," said ONeill afterwards.
"I think the most disappointing thing is the lack of chances that we are creating and the nature of the goals we’re conceding. We’re losing poor goals, goals from set pieces."
Rovers now trail title rivals St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians by eight points with only three games gone in the 2010 Airtricty league season. However, O’Neill believes it isn’t time to panic just yet.
"I’m not even thinking about the title. We never came out and said we were going to win the league or anything like that," he admitted.
"A lot of people believe we have a squad capable of challenging for the league and I believe that as well, but at this moment in time we don’t look like a squad capable of doing that. That doesn’t mean we won’t, but at this minute in time our thoughts are how do we get a win."
O’Neill has been without key players Gary Twigg and Dessie Baker since the season began. The pair, who netted a combined total of 32 league goals for The Hoops last season, are a noticeable absence as Rovers have only registered a single goal this season.
The Rovers boss hopes to have Twigg fit and ready soon but insisted he won’t be rushing him back before he’s fully fit.
"He’s started jogging I believe. He has to get the stitches out of his wounds from the operation and I believe that will be done in the next few days and then I think he can start training lightly," he said.
"Hopefully he and Dessie [Baker] will be back and available sooner rather than later."
The Hoops boss was unhappy at his team’s performance as they were beaten 2-0 by Ian Foster’s Dundalk side thanks to goals from Neale Fenn and Stephen Maher.
"We’ve been beaten 2-0 at home. I’m disappointed with the performance, disappointed with the result," said ONeill afterwards.
"I think the most disappointing thing is the lack of chances that we are creating and the nature of the goals we’re conceding. We’re losing poor goals, goals from set pieces."
Rovers now trail title rivals St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians by eight points with only three games gone in the 2010 Airtricty league season. However, O’Neill believes it isn’t time to panic just yet.
"I’m not even thinking about the title. We never came out and said we were going to win the league or anything like that," he admitted.
"A lot of people believe we have a squad capable of challenging for the league and I believe that as well, but at this moment in time we don’t look like a squad capable of doing that. That doesn’t mean we won’t, but at this minute in time our thoughts are how do we get a win."
O’Neill has been without key players Gary Twigg and Dessie Baker since the season began. The pair, who netted a combined total of 32 league goals for The Hoops last season, are a noticeable absence as Rovers have only registered a single goal this season.
The Rovers boss hopes to have Twigg fit and ready soon but insisted he won’t be rushing him back before he’s fully fit.
"He’s started jogging I believe. He has to get the stitches out of his wounds from the operation and I believe that will be done in the next few days and then I think he can start training lightly," he said.
"Hopefully he and Dessie [Baker] will be back and available sooner rather than later."
Frankie Lally
Frankie Lally is the Extratime Bohemians correspondent. His first League of Ireland memory was watching Glen Crowe score the winner for Bohemians against Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup in 2001. You can contact Frankie at frankielally92@gmail.com
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