Drogheda hoping to stop the rot in derby
DROGHEDA United could face theth most severe of backlashes againsta a wounded Dundalk on Friday - but boss Pete Mahon in insists his team won’t fear going in into the lions’ den in Oriel Park.
The champions are still s smarting from their defeat at the hands of title rivals Cork City last weekend and face a Drogheda side who will be attempting to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat.
And with the first Louth derby of the season being broadcast live on RTE Two (kick-off 7.30pm), there will be no hiding place for the Boynesiders if events don’t go according to plan. However, Dundalk will be missing several players through injury and suspension and Mahon insists his team are looking forward to locking horns with their neighbours in their own back yard.
Speaking on Tuesday morning, the Drogs boss said: ‘The one thing we won’t have is an inferiority complex.
‘I watched that [Cork v Dundalk] match on Saturday night when I went home and I have to say it was a very poor advert for League of Ireland football - the two leading teams.
‘The ref got an earbashing from both teams in the first minute. I don’t like this diving, trying to get players booked and sent off. He made a decision and immediately there were five or six players in his ear and I hope the referee on Friday is not going to be intimidated by anything.’
Asked whether Drogheda might decide to ‘ruffle a few feathers’ in the Dundalk team, Mahon responded: ‘We could try that, but Dundalk are a very physical team and we’re not going to go down that road.
‘We won’t have a lot of possession, so it’s crucial that when we do have the ball we make the right decisions and give them something to think about. We have some good players and if we play well we always have a chance, even against Dundalk.
‘They are the league champions and we have to respect them, but we won’t fear them.’
Defensive errors have crept into Dundalk’s play in recent weeks and their goalkeeper Gary Rogers came in for sharp criticism in Turners Cross last week, but Mahon insists it’s much too early to start writing them out of the title race.
‘There’s a lot of people writing their obituary, but people make mistakes in games and Dundalk are no different. They just don’t make as many mistakes as other teams.
‘We have to be on top of our game to have any chance, but it’s on TV and there will be a full house and the players don’t need any motivation. We’re going up there with nothing to lose and we’re really looking forward to the game, so we’ll see what happens.’
Apart from Killian Brennan, who resumed light jogging at training on Monday night and is set to return in about four weeks, Drogheda should be at full strength, with Richie Purdy returning from suspension, although Stephen Elliott (hamstring) is a slight doubt.
Dundalk will be without Stephen O’Donnell, Robbie Benson, Steven Kinsella and Shane Grimes through injury, Paddy Barrett and Patrick McEleney are carrying knocks and Ciaran Kilduff is suspended following his red card in Cork.
Meanwhile, Mahon cut a frustrated figure after Drogheda’s latest defeat, 1-0 at the hands of Bohemians last Saturday.
‘The reason we were beaten is we didn’t take the chances we had and we gave a goal away from a set piece. We had spoken about it during the week and Saturday afternoon, and we put it up on the teamsheet - who was doing what and what was going to happen.
‘I’m not trying to make myself out as some sort of guru, but we went over it again at half-time in the game. Don’t give away free kicks, and if we do, make sure to mark number 6.
‘I was disappointed with the result, but I take comfort from the way we tried to play - they didn’t try to play at all.
‘We have to try to put an end to our four-game losing streak, though.’
Drogheda’s postponed EA Sports Cup first-round tie at home to Bray Wanderers has been fixed for next Tuesday, April 4th, with a 7.45pm kick-off.
•Drogheda United have announced the appointment of Morgan Hughes as their new Under-15s manager.
Hughes, who holds a UEFA A Licence, has worked as an auxiliary coach with the FAI for the past number of years and brings a vast amount of experience of Underage and Elite-level football.
He is currently assisting Drogheda United Under-19s manager Derek Boyle and will take up his new role in the summer when the new National Under-15 League kicks off.