O’Donnell: ‘We’re working towards something, we’ll keep building’

DUNDALK head coach Stephen O’Donnell says he has full confidence that his side are moving in the right direction despite their wait for a first win of the campaign continuing following a goalless draw with Waterford FC on Friday night.

The Lilywhites remain rooted to the foot of the Premier Division table after two draws and three defeats from their opening five matches.

However, the side at least showed signs of improvement in their last match before the international break this weekend with a first clean sheet of the campaign something to build on.

The pressure remains on O’Donnell ahead of a tricky week when the season resumes as his side travel to face table toppers Shelbourne on Friday, March 29, and Derry City on Friday, April 5, either side of what could be a crucial Louth derby match against Drogheda United at Oriel Park on Easter Monday, April 1. However, the 38-year-old says he accepts the criticism that has been laid at his door in recent weeks but feels his side are moving in the right direction.

“You can speak too soon and you go on a solo run here and it comes back to bite you but I’m confident in the group that we have,” he said.

“We are working towards something and we’ll keep building. I don’t want to be seen to be saying that it was always going to take time. Ultimately, we lost 5-0 at home to Sligo. Irrespective of how many new players you have in that is unacceptable but last Friday and tonight are steps but we have to get the mentality in the group that you’re playing for Dundalk and we win games here, end of story.

“Obviously, we’d be disappointed with where we’re at at this little break so there’s a lot for us to improve on. It’s definitely not a mentality that we drew and we’re quite content. It’s the opposite. We want to get to a place where if we don’t win, especially here, then it’s real disappointment.

“The clean sheet is a building

block but again there has to be a real sense of disappointment that we didn’t win tonight in our mentality and in the group’s mentality and that’s what I hope the players have in that sense. When you play for Dundalk, especially at home, and you don’t win, there’s a real sense of disappointment.”

O’Donnell admitted the last few weeks haven’t been easy but says he remains focused on turning things around, also dismissing speculation in The Irish Independent that had him linked with the vacant managerial role at

Bohemians.

Asked had he heard anything from Dalymount Park, he said: “No, jeepers.

“I was in Nyon this week. Lausanne were after me,” he added, joking.

“Nothing at all, hand on heart, absolutely zilch. I’m actually really looking forward to this challenge to be honest with you. I’m excited by it and it is going to be a real good challenge and a good test.

“I like the response and the character of our players from 10 or 11 days ago of losing 5-0 here. For young players, of course it’s a shock to them and criticism obviously follows that for everyone but the response from a work ethic and a want point of view last Friday against Pat’s and building on it tonight was really good. It’s a good personality test and test of character for the whole group and I like the way we responded but we need to go up levels for sure as well.

“It isn’t easy to but I am realistic as well even though I’m sort of young. When you take a manager’s job or a head coach job, you’re going to get criticised. That is the life you’re in so you just accept that.

“When it’s going well it’s great but just like when it was going well and there were big plaudits, it doesn’t actually affect me. I feel the same both ways because my main focus every day is on the group and what we’re working towards. If we’re top of the league or if we’re bottom of the league, my form isn’t better either/or to be honest with you. I still have the same sort of intensity both ways.”

While insisting he understood some of the criticism, O’Donnell said he was delighted with the support his side had been receiving in their difficult run.

“I thought the crowd were brilliant and I thought they got behind the team. Ultimately, that’s how you judge a group and how you judge a club because when you’re not going great they were really positive tonight,” he said.

“Like we’re well aware that we have to give them stuff to cheer about too but I’m not going to demand that crowds keep coming when we’re not winning games. I’m well aware of that but I thought they were really good tonight and I think the players fed off that and gained confidence.

“It goes such a long way when there’s a little decent passage and the crowd give applause. I don’t think people comprehend how much of a difference it makes. You look at the profile of our boys. They’re young boys and a lot of them are playing first-team football for the first time regularly here. Ross (Munro), Louie (Annesley), Hayden (Muller), Zak Johnson, Zak Bradshaw, Ciarán McGuckin, Sam Durrant, they’ve only played regularly here so they’re still very much new on their journey and it makes such a difference to players to feed off that and to feel that warmth and little bit of love.

“I couldn’t ask for any more but I know that Dundalk fans are always going to be like that and as well when we’re not performing and not doing well that you accept that criticism comes your way and I’ve absolutely no issue with that at all.”

YOU CAN SPEAK TOO SOON AND YOU GO ON A SOLO RUN... BUT I’M CONFIDENT IN THE GROUP THAT WE HAVE