‘Happy with the defence - apart from the goal’
DESPITE his side suffering backto-back defeats for the first time since May, Harry Kenny saw reasons to be optimistic following Bray Wanderers’ 0-1 loss to Limerick FC.
It brought an end to six consecutive wins at the Carlisle Grounds for the Seagulls whilst also continuing their failure to keep a clean sheet in 2017. The Co. Wicklow club’s toothless attack was unable to recover after Paul O’Conor’s fifth minute missile but Kenny saw a case for the defence.
“I thought it was a huge improvement defensively. They didn’t create too much; it was just the goal and the free kick that hit the crossbar but other than that I can’t remember them creating too many chances. I was happy with the defence tonight – apart from the goal.”
Kenny also praised the rearguard performance of the Shannonsiders – the first side to manage a shutout against Bray this term.
“They were pretty organised. They defended well, they dropped off when we had the ball and they didn’t give us much space around the middle of the pitch to create anything. We had the same personnel up around the front – the top six – there was no change there. They were organised and they defended well and we couldn’t break them down.”
But the Wanderers boss knows that the result is unacceptable.
“We should be beating Limerick at home – we’ve a good record at home and we were confident enough going into the game but it wasn’t to be tonight. They took the one chance that they had and we didn’t create a whole pile so it’s disappointing on that front.”
The Seasiders will look to rediscover the winning touch against Derry City on Sunday but it will be a game like no other as the Candystripes begin life without Ryan McBride.
“Football will be the secondary issues. As you rightly say, it’ll be an emotional game. We look forward to it and we’ll play our part in it and see how it goes.
“There’s not (a precedent) and it’ll be hard to know what way they are as well whether they all rally around and get together and have a right go…it’s in the lap of the gods.”