Foster satisfied with point
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LITMUS tests rarely come better than the one Galway United face this Friday.
Four weeks of shrugging off doubters will be put to the ultimate challenge against league powerhouses Derry City, following on from a 0-0 draw against Sligo Rovers on Friday which leaves them in fourth place overall. It was a dark and cold performance by both Mother Nature and the competing sides at Terryland Park, and United manager Ian Foster settled for the result in a match where scoring opportunities were few and far between.
He now turns his attention to the Northerners who now share top spot in the divsion with Bohemians, and while blatantly aware of what a tough road-trip it will be, Foster has the fuel to speak with plenty of fire about their hopes across the border.
“It will be a decent test for us because they’re a decent side, they’ll be competing to be champions and we’re under no illusion how tough it’s going to be,” he said.
“But the lads have got points on the board and what we have done is give ourselves the right to go and have a right go at Derry. Next week will be a different kind of test for us, they can hurt you all over the park Derry, and we’ve got to be ready for that.”
Galway can take credit for having far more chances than Sligo on Friday, but failed to make use of any of them, while also failing to capitalise on an extra man when Rovers’ Danny Ventre saw red for a tackle on Vinny Faherty in the 65th minute. United also went down to 10 men when Declan Edwards received his second yellow, but this was not until the very closing stages.
Foster stopped short of lambasting referee Alan Kelly with too much criticism following a number of questionable second half decisions.
“I’ve not seen the replays of either,” he said.
“I thought that Ventre’s a little bit unfortunate, in my opinion, to be sent off. As for Declan Edwards, if he’s dived he deserves a yellow card. The second one’s a bit petulant and I think the referee just wanted to leave him off to be honest. I don’t want to have a go at referees. We all have off nights. I have mine, the players have had theirs and I’m sure he’ll hold his hand up and say he’s had his because I thought, at times, his decision-making was a little bit off.”
He also gave credit to the Rovers side who were gritty without being flashy and did enough to escape with a point. “I will take a point tonight because I think Sligo just wanted it a little bit more tonight,” he said.
“They pressed us very well tonight all over the pitch and we found it difficult at times. The conditions first half were shocking, we just couldn’t pass it. At half time we said we’ve got the wind, we can pass the ball better and go and win the game, that was the objective. Decision-making tonight was off, passing wasn’t quite crisp enough and we were pressed all over the park by a decent side.
Shane Fitzgerald will not take part in preparations for the Derry game following an ankle injury during the second half against Sligo . X-rays cleared him of a break, but the new signing will spend this week in a temporary cast. It was disappointing for the winger, who was handed his first starting berth for United, filling the shoes of captain Jay O’Shea who was away on representative duties for the Ireland under-21 team.
Four weeks of shrugging off doubters will be put to the ultimate challenge against league powerhouses Derry City, following on from a 0-0 draw against Sligo Rovers on Friday which leaves them in fourth place overall. It was a dark and cold performance by both Mother Nature and the competing sides at Terryland Park, and United manager Ian Foster settled for the result in a match where scoring opportunities were few and far between.
He now turns his attention to the Northerners who now share top spot in the divsion with Bohemians, and while blatantly aware of what a tough road-trip it will be, Foster has the fuel to speak with plenty of fire about their hopes across the border.
“It will be a decent test for us because they’re a decent side, they’ll be competing to be champions and we’re under no illusion how tough it’s going to be,” he said.
“But the lads have got points on the board and what we have done is give ourselves the right to go and have a right go at Derry. Next week will be a different kind of test for us, they can hurt you all over the park Derry, and we’ve got to be ready for that.”
Galway can take credit for having far more chances than Sligo on Friday, but failed to make use of any of them, while also failing to capitalise on an extra man when Rovers’ Danny Ventre saw red for a tackle on Vinny Faherty in the 65th minute. United also went down to 10 men when Declan Edwards received his second yellow, but this was not until the very closing stages.
Foster stopped short of lambasting referee Alan Kelly with too much criticism following a number of questionable second half decisions.
“I’ve not seen the replays of either,” he said.
“I thought that Ventre’s a little bit unfortunate, in my opinion, to be sent off. As for Declan Edwards, if he’s dived he deserves a yellow card. The second one’s a bit petulant and I think the referee just wanted to leave him off to be honest. I don’t want to have a go at referees. We all have off nights. I have mine, the players have had theirs and I’m sure he’ll hold his hand up and say he’s had his because I thought, at times, his decision-making was a little bit off.”
He also gave credit to the Rovers side who were gritty without being flashy and did enough to escape with a point. “I will take a point tonight because I think Sligo just wanted it a little bit more tonight,” he said.
“They pressed us very well tonight all over the pitch and we found it difficult at times. The conditions first half were shocking, we just couldn’t pass it. At half time we said we’ve got the wind, we can pass the ball better and go and win the game, that was the objective. Decision-making tonight was off, passing wasn’t quite crisp enough and we were pressed all over the park by a decent side.
Shane Fitzgerald will not take part in preparations for the Derry game following an ankle injury during the second half against Sligo . X-rays cleared him of a break, but the new signing will spend this week in a temporary cast. It was disappointing for the winger, who was handed his first starting berth for United, filling the shoes of captain Jay O’Shea who was away on representative duties for the Ireland under-21 team.
