MCMILLAN SPOTS THE BIGGER PICTURE
NOT even equalling a League of Ireland record could make up for the disappointment David McMillan felt at the final whistle in Vienna on Thursday night.
The striker’s late brace of penalties against Rapid Vienna saw him take the number of European goals he has scored in his career to 11. This saw him overtake Jason Byrne to move level with Glen Crowe as the League of Ireland player with the most goals in Europe.
He also became the first player from the domestic game to hit double figures for a single club, with his two spot kicks taking his tally to Dundalk to 10.
While a lofty achievement, it was the furthest thing from his mind after Dundalk’s 4-3 defeat to the Austrian outfit.
‘It’s probably something I’ll look back on in the future, but obviously I’m just really disappointed with the result,’ he said in the post match press conference.
‘It’s hard to look past that right now, particularly when we were so in the game.
‘I had even forgotten about Greg’s chance to put us 3-2 up, so to go suddenly 4-2 behind was so disappointing, but we competed so well and played very well.
‘It gives us hope going forward to the last three games in the group and belief amongst the squad that we can achieve something in the group.’
McMillan admitted that mistakes cost Dundalk dear in the end.
‘We probably shot ourselves in the foot unfortunately.
‘To come away here and score three goals and not leave with a point is really, really disappointing.
‘I think we can be proud of our performance but obviously hugely disappointed that we don’t come away with any points.
‘As a team we’ve got to accept that and try and improve.
‘It’s costly to come and score three goals and not pick up anything. That can’t be really ac
ceptable from our point of view. We played really well, I thought, but the mistakes are killing us a little bit.
‘Together as a team we’ll put our heads down. We have to build on this and look forward to the other European games and make sure we get some points in the group,’ said the 31-year-old striker.
McMillan also revealed that he thought the keeper had saved his initial penalty which brought the game level at two apiece with nine minutes to go.
“We were disappointed to go 2-1 down. I thought we were doing well in the game at that point. When the penalty went in I felt we could come away with a point at least, so I just wanted to strike it well.
‘There was probably a little heart-stopping second for me where I thought the keeper might save it, but it crept in.
‘To concede then so quickly after it again was just really disappointing.’