Boyle urges teammates to rise to Pat’s challenge
DUNDALK defender Andy Boyle has challenged his team-mates to put their slow start behind them when they welcome high-flying St Patrick’s Athletic to Oriel Park this Saturday (kick-off 6pm, live on WATCHLOI).
The Lilywhites have taken just one point from four matches to date to record their joint-worst start to a top flight season in the club’s history.
However, one-time Irish cap Boyle insists the side cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves and says it’s crucial they get things going as soon as possible despite being up against one of the league’s in-form sides.
‘They’ve had a really good start,’ he said of Stephen O’Donnell’s men.
‘I’ve watched a few of their games and they look a good side and Stevie from being here, he’ll have them well drilled and it’s going to be a tough one next week but it’s a good occasion that we can hopefully get our season kickstarted on.
‘It comes down to us as players. We are the ones going out on the pitch, we have to make sure that every night we go out, we give a good account of ourselves.
‘I think tonight was a little bit better performance wise but at the end of the day it’s a results based business and we haven’t won the game tonight.
‘It was a difficult night for us. We started well and then the peno goes against us and we concede. It changes the game for 20-25 minutes and we should have been a bit better in the way we deal with that setback during the game.
‘We created enough chances and had a substantial claim at the end for a penalty but it wasn’t to be. When you’re in a run like we are at the moment, stuff goes against you and that was probably the case with some decisions tonight.’
Boyle admitted it could have been a different game had his fourth minute header gone in rather than rattle the crossbar.
‘I think so yeah, a good start is what we are looking for and if that goes in it’s a completely different game. We might go on and put in a proper performance and win the game comfortably but it wasn’t to be and now the run we are on, we have to roll the sleeves up and dig in.’
Boyle said he still had faith that Dundalk could go on a winning run as soon as they get their first win on the board.
‘Over the course of a 36 game season, we’ve got more of a good chance to come back and go on that run.
‘In the past we’ve gone on runs where we’ve gone 20-25 games unbeaten and looking at that it’s going to have be something like that now and we’re more than aware of that obviously.
‘We spoke in the dressing room. I can’t really say what was said but we know starting from Monday we have to roll up the sleeves and get on with it. The lads that have been here longer have to come to the fore and instill that in the newer lads really.
‘We’re well aware that we’ve been below par and the start hasn’t been the start we want. It just keeps coming back to working harder and hoping our luck will change. Sometimes we haven’t had the decisions come with us, but we can’t give out about that and have to make our own luck,’ he said