Town just can’t afford to be playing catch-up early on, warns McDonnell
TWO games. Two defeats. Seven goals conceded. It has been a difficult start for Stephen McDonnell in his first full season in charge of Warrenpoint Town.
After losing 3-0 away to Coleraine on the opening day, McDonnell fancied his side to pick up their first points at home against Glenavon only to lose 4-2 to an Andy Mitchell-inspired Lurgan Blues — and this having taken an early lead.
Facing the sides who finished second and third in the league last term was always going to be a test. More of an even contest should come today against Institute at the Brandywell.
With respect to both, the likelihood is that Institute and Warrenpoint will be among the clubs fighting a relegation battle which makes this clash vital.
Paddy McLaughlin’s Institute team already have a home victory in the bag against Newry City. Another one would open up a six-point gap between themselves and Warrenpoint. McDonnell does not want to be playing catch-up, even this early in the campaign.
“Institute are a team we expect to be battling with along with Newry, Dungannon and Ards,” said 26-year-old McDonnell, one of the youngest managers in Europe.
“They are the sides we need to be looking after in what is our own mini-league, so the game with Institute is really important and we’ ll go there with the intention to come home with a victory.”
McDonnell has a key decision to make about goalkeeper Johnny Parr, who has made mistakes which have led to goals in the last two fixtures.
While the Town boss could do with more solidity at the back, he stresses the need for his front men to deliver at the other end.
“We came away from the defeats with Coleraine and Glenavon disappointed because we feel we can match teams like that and give them a game,” said McDonnell.
“Conceding is one thing but probably not scoring is even more frustrating. We could have been out of sight in the first half after going ahead against Glenavon.
“When players aren’t in sync that is a bigger concern for me. You are always going to concede goals, but we need to be taking our chances if we are going to get anything out of games like that.
“We are trying to gel 10 new players who have come to the club. We understand that but there are simple decisions costing us in the final third. Two of Glenavon’s goals actually came from us losing the ball in their final third. If we capitalise we don’t concede.
“We didn’t do what we show at training. The lads are like lightning then and need to play like that. When we do that we won’t be a million miles away.”