Shels clash the perfect chance to stop the rot

AFTER taking just one point out of a possible 12 from recent games against their promotion rivals, Drogheda United will aim to stop the rot in Tolka Park on Friday (7.45pm).

Both previous league games against Shelbourne this season ended in 1-1 draws, with Sean Brennan striking late from the penalty spot on the last occasion, and another stalemate wouldn’t be a bad result going ng into back-to-back games against ainst Wexford and Athlone Town.

However, Drogs manager Tim Clancy hinted yesterday (Monday) that his team wouldn’t set up defensively in the hope of frustating Shels, who are currently one point better off than the Boynesiders in second place behind UCD.

‘It’s that time in the season where you need to win games,’ he commented.

‘Every other team would want us and Shels to draw this week, and a draw wouldn’t be the worst result, but if you get a win it’s massive and another loss would certainly be disappointing.

‘Most people would probably say we deserved to win against Finn Harps last week, and it was much the same against Longford before that, and if we’d won those two games we’d be top of the table.

‘It’s small margins and we have a young squad and we have to nurse them through this spell as best we can.’

Last Friday’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Harps followed on from other losses against Longford Town [1-0] and UCD [2-0] and a concern has been the shortage of goals in recent times, with just three scored in the last five games and none of those from open play.

Drogheda will hardly have things easy against a Shelbourne team who remain unbeaten at home and have the meanest defence in the division, but Clancy feels his team will soon rediscover their scoring touch.

‘We were going to have that spell where we created a lot of chances and didn’t take them. We started the season unbelievably well and practically took every chance that came our way.

‘Maybe lads are snatching at them a bit and there’s added pressure on them now, but they’ve been faultless and I would be more worried if games were like the UCD game where it never looked like we were going to get aanything out of the game.

‘It wwas a good performance on FridFriday and the lads couldn’t have ddone much more apart from putting the ball in the net, and that [luck] will change aswc as long as we keep playing well and creating those chances.’

Clancy expressed the hhope that left-back Conor KKane would be able to rereturn to the starting line-up afafter missing three games thrthrough injury, but Stephen MeaMeaney remains sidelined after ssuffering a fall in a work-related latedrelated aaccident.

FormFormer UCD forward Robert Manley signed for the Drogs last WeWednesday and made an impact when coming on as a late sub against Harps, earning praise from his manager who still hopes to add another couple of faces before the transfer window closes.

‘We don’t really have that physicality up top and Rob gives us that different option, especially with Stephen out,’ Clancy said.

‘We are happy to get on him board and hopefully he’ll play a big part in the run-in.

‘We’re hoping to get other players in as well, players who will impact on the starting XI or have an impact coming off the bench, but there are teams in our league who can offer three or four times the money we can.

‘We have a few irons in the fire, but you are limited in what players you can bring in.’

In terms of the club’s finances, last week’s FAI Cup first round draw will be a help as the Drogs were handed a home draw against Stephen Bradley’s Shamrock Rovers in a tie likely to be played on Friday August 10th.

Commenting on the draw, Clancy said: ‘You always want a home draw and if you have ambitions to go far then a tie against a non-league team might have been better, but it’s good from the club’s perspective to get one of the bigger teams.

‘No one will be expecting us to get a result, but it’s a good chance for the players to get a stage to show what they can do.’

Every other team would want us and Shels to draw this week, and a draw wouldn’t be the worst result, but if you get a win it’s massive and another loss would certainly be disappointing