KEEPER THE FAITH!
Pat’s gaffer defends on-loan Brazilian from ‘harsh’ critics in stands after Bohs mistake
JON DALY insists criticism of Liverpool loanee Marcelo Pitaluga is ‘harsh’ and has backed the Brazilian to thrive this season.
The St Pat’s keeper conceded the late penalty that settled Friday’s derby clash with Bohs as Gypsies skipper Jordan Flores slotted home the only goal.
It was a smash and grab raid from Bohs as Saints were the more adventurous side but they still lacked the teeth in the final third to make their possession count.
Pitaluga clipped Bohs newcomer Dayle Rooney in the box in the 85th minute and referee Rob Hennessy didn’t hesitate awarding the spot kick.
But St Pat’s boss Daly believes the real error was the undercooked back pass from captain Joe Redmond that forced Pitaluga to rush from his line.
It was Pitaluga’s home debut, having been loaned from Liverpool where he featured on the bench for seven of their games this season. In the President’s Cup defeat to Shamrock Rovers, the 21-year-old didn’t cover himself in glory for the final Hoops goal as a tame shot slipped through his hands.
But after Friday’s derby defeat, Daly was asked if Saints fans should expect more of Pitaluga considering his club background and he said: “I think that’s a bit harsh.
“He had a shot in the first-half that was a really difficult one to deal with but he handled it brilliantly and took it into his body no problem.
“And he made a good save towards the end from (Declan) Mcdaid when we were pushing. I wouldn’t lay the penalty at his door in terms of putting the blame on him. It was an under hit back pass.
“If you’re going to play it back to the keeper, you need to make sure it gets there.
“Some of his kicking can be better but we’ll continue to work on that with him. Overall I was pleased enough with the performance.”
Saints had opened their campaign with a win in Galway the week before, but fell short trying to follow-up at home ahead of this Friday’s trip to Derry City.
Daly liked plenty of aspects of the performance but said: “I thought we could have offered a little more going forward. But two games into the season, it’s going to be a bit slow to get going.
“You look at the other results on the night and think it’s an opportunity to get three points on the board.
“A draw would have been a fair result but we got punished for a mistake.”
And Daly put his hands up after admitting his tinkering with team shape in the second-half was a factor in their downfall.
He replaced centre-back Conor Keeley with attacking midfielder Brandon Kavanagh and added: “If we had stayed in a back three, the game finishes 0-0 potentially.
“I spoke to the boys and said I would take full responsibility as I was the one who changed shape to try and get an extra attacker on the pitch to give us more threat.
“Ultimately, it’s a mistake that costs us the game – an under hit back pass that gets intercepted.
“There wasn’t an awful lot of contact, if any. But it’s disappointing that you get punished for something like that.”