Shiels shoulders blame after Dundalk defeat
KENNY SHIELS admitted he had to “take the blame” for defeat as the Lilywhites showed their class with another empathic display to see off a disappointing Derry City.
“I have to take the blame because I’ve been really frustrated this week,” Shiels said.
“I was throwing out negative energy to the players, I was argumentative, I was frustrated and I was giving out negative energy.
“I was like a bear with a sore head. I was just hurting so much from last week and I let it transfer on to the training ground and I apologise to the supporters for that; that’s poor management.”
The Lilywhites, who currently sit 14 points behind leaders Cork City, were superb against Shiels’ side.
Former City winger Michael Duffy produced a Man of the Match display for the second week running as he came back to haunt his old club, while Stephen Kenny could even afford to take off two-goal hero Robbie Benson at half-time.
Dundalk ended the game as a contest in the first-half after an impressive 18-minute spell which saw them score four times.
Stephen Kenny’s men thought they had the lead on 18 minutes, but John Mountney’s sliding effort was ruled out for offside.
City fell a goal behind on 23 minutes, as Mountney’s outstanding pass released Benson, who calmly strolled into the City box before clipping the ball over goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.
Dundalk added a second minutes later as Patrick McEleney curled the ball to the back post for an unmarked David McMillan to fire home.
Just after the half-hour mark Duffy saw his 20-yard drive parried away by Doherty, but Benson was on hand to clip the ball into the net.
The scoring finished on 41 minutes as Duffy’s left-wing cross found Mountney at the back post and he drilled the ball home.