FRUSTRATED KENNY WANTS LILYWHITES BACK

And the Rebels boss has hailed the Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender’s ‘phenomenal attitude’ for refusing to grumble at his lack of game time.

A regular for Noel King’s international side, the 21-year-old has been a peripheral figure since joining the champions from Huddersfield Town over the close season.

That is largely due to Shane STEPHEN KENNY wants Dundalk to do what they do best tonight win and with style.

The Lilywhites boss (right) was frustrated to see his side lose its unbeaten tag in Friday’s clash at Cork City on what he deemed the worst Turner’s Cross pitch “in living memory”.

Kenny said: “It was not a game of football I enjoyed. It was completely frenetic. It was like a throwback to the League of Ireland 15 years ago.

“The ball was in the air way too much. In the last half-hour we got a hold of it and were able to control it and create chances but our shooting needs to be better.

“There’s a better way of playing

Oriel Park, 7.45pm

and we’re striving to get there but it’s difficult to do it.”

Saints, meanwhile, were caught by a ‘sucker punch’ in their derby draw with Bohemians on Friday having been 2-0 up but Liam Buckley has told his players not to dwell on it.

“For the first 50 minutes on Friday, there was only one team in the ascendancy and that was us,” he said.

“Unfortunately Ryan Brennan’s sending off changed the game. Bohs were able to dominate possession after that and we just couldn’t see it out. But the players put in a huge effort and I was proud of their commitment, we were dealt a sucker punch at the end.”