Dundalk to prioritise finishing in training

Interim boss Brian Gartland hopes his side can find their shooting boots for Friday’s match at the Showgrounds

DUNDALK interim boss Brian Gartland says the side will spend the week working on their crossing and finishing in the hopes of finding their shooting boots in Sligo this weekend.

The 37-year-old, who is in temporary charge alongside Liam Burns following Stephen O’Donnell’s dismissal, saw the Lilywhites put in two improved displays against St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians at the weekend only for them to fail to hit the net in either game.

A scoreless draw against St Pat’s on Friday means Dundalk have failed to score at Oriel Park for five games running for the first time while the 1-0 defeat to Bohs on Monday means the club have the unwanted record of having the worst start to a season in the club’s history.

There were undoubted positives from both matches but Gartland – the club’s top scoring defender of all-time – feels confidence in attacking areas is what is needed to help the side to their first win of the campaign.

“There’s so much positives to take but all we’re going to be doing is shooting and crossing and finishing in training. That’s it because that’s just the missing link,” said Gartland.

“I thought the defence was excellent again tonight and the same the other night. We’ve gone through the four centre-halves and we’ve had two different lads at right back and I think Zak Bradshaw has been excellent having just been thrown in there in the last couple of weeks.

“I could go through everyone that has played their part but the biggest thing for me is the lads who haven’t played their part. The couple of injuries have used up a substitution so there’s a few lads who haven’t got minutes who probably would have if we had the normal three stoppages but their attitude has been excellent. They’re working for the team and they’re backing up the other boys and that’s all they can do for each other and for me or Liam or the manager that comes in.

“We can’t criticise anything but it’s just that final touch. I think that’s just a confidence thing. There’s good players there and players who have played in the league and skinned many full-backs so it’s just that final part of the puzzle.”

The club’s Head of Football Operations admitted that despite the positives, not having an attempt on target was a disappointment.

“For us to not have a shot on target is hard to take,” he said.

“That’s what I said coming off the pitch. Someone said we had six or seven shots but I don’t remember their keeper making a save so that is the hard bit to take.

“I thought at times we had a couple of spells in the second half but against the wind it’s very hard. We played good football and kept it on the deck and really linked up well on the wings. We got into opportunities. Like I said they’re opportunities where we don’t work the keeper but I’m delighted with the lads for the character that they showed and the commitment and everything like that but then we give up a set piece goal.

“I think confidence is the main part of what is missing in the final third. If you’re lacking a little bit in confidence you might just be that little bit indecisive and that split second of indecision can be crucial.

“There’s a couple of situations tonight that I’m thinking of where if the attacker on our side just commits and gets his toe on it first then there’s a defender hanging out a leg and whether it’s a penalty or whether you get by him, it’s stuff like that. We’ve got a young profile of players probably in that position so it’s easy for us to say have more confidence but confidence comes with your performances. I think their performances have been really good but it’s just the final action whether it’s an assist or a strike on goal.”

Gartland is hopeful that the long wait for a win ends in The Showgrounds this Friday but despite back-to-back 3-0 defeats for Sligo Rovers, he says Dundalk just need to focus on themselves.

“It’s one game at a time. It’s just looking at ourselves and see what we can do.

“It sounds stupid but if we bring the performance that we brought Friday night and again tonight and hopefully there’s not another gale force wind for the third game in-a-row that kills the footballing game then hopefully we can come out the right side of it,” he said.

WE’RE GOING TO BE DOING IS SHOOTING AND CROSSING AND FINISHING IN TRAINING