O’Donnell apologises after last match

A DISCONSOLATE Stephen O’Donnell apologised to Dundalk supporters and admitted there was a “softness” to the team following a 4-1 defeat against Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night.

The result, coupled with Drogheda United’s 2-2 draw at home to Shelbourne, means the Lilywhites are now four points off ninth place having taken just three points from their opening eight matches – their worst start to a season since a similar return in the 1998/99 campaign when the club was subsequently relegated for the first time in its history.

Speaking afterwards, O’Donnell admitted: “It’s not good enough.”

He continued: “The scoreline reflects that and in the second half especially, it’s way too easy in all aspects. We’re not excelling on either side of the ball and when you’re not doing that this is what happens. The first half was quite competitive. There wasn’t loads in it but we gave up a poor goal.

“Then in the second half from the get go – not winning duels, not being aggressive, it was so easy. There was just a softness to us and that’s the only way I can describe it.”

The 38-year-old said he took responsibility for where the club were despite his side not reflecting the kind of personality he had on the pitch himself as a player.

“It’s very, very disappointing but, ultimately, it comes from me,” he said.

“I’ll never shirk responsibility and say it’s the players. Ultimately, it comes from the coach and that’s what we’re showing on the pitch.

“Derry will go away thinking we’re a soft touch tonight and rightly so because in the second half especially we were. It breaks my heart to see fans travelling up and serving up that, especially in the second half. It tears me apart to be honest with you,” he said.

When it was put to him that Dundalk’s own fans were singing ‘we’re going down’, O’Donnell issued an apology to them.

“I hate sort of apologising in the sense I always think you do your talking on the pitch. I always think it’s cheap speak when you see someone apologising to supporters but I’m just so disappointed for them and for them to have that sort of mindset – but we’ve got to turn it. It’s up to us to change the mindset. Ultimately, it’s our actions.

“What am I going to say to our fanbase only that I love the club. As I said, I was so committed to sacrificing to come back and it wasn’t for nights like tonight.”