Defiant Kenna eyes improvement
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Defeated St.Patrick’s Athletic boss Jeff Kenna is refusing to accept that the Inchicore club’s current plight is irreversible and is very confident in his attitude despite certain sections of Pat’s supporters calling for his head. His latest show of defiance came after today’s one nil defeat to Shamrock Rovers in the EA Sport’s League Cup.
Regarding the encounter he advised: “Another disappointing result, another soft goal and that’s the story of our season so far.” Adding: “We keep fighting the good fight; the players have to believe that it’ll turn. They’re working hard in training; they’re working hard in games. The problem we have now is that the longer it goes where we keep getting beat; the confidence becomes an issue and once that happens you’re on a slippery slope.”
But was quick to state that he doesn’t think confidence has been affected yet: “I certainly like to think that we’re not at that stage yet, I’m certainly, that’s what I’m telling the players but the longer it goes the more difficult that is.”
When questioned about calls for his job Kenna was again saying all the right things but made a case for himself that things have been made very difficult for him: “The fans expect us to be up there challenging and I expect us to be up there challenging, we’re not and the buck stops with me. I pick the team and if the team is not doing well that’s my fault. It’s as simple as that in my eyes.”
Then went on to make the case that he didn’t inherit the team in the same health as it was in last season: “But I mean realistically it’s not the same team, not the same squad that was here last year. There’s been significant cuts in the wage bill and everything else and you know, that has to play a part.”
Kenna’s opposing number Michael O’Neill cut a very relaxed and satisfied figure meanwhile identifying the competition as one he intends to take very seriously as the job he is doing at the Tallaght based club is going from strength to strength: “For other clubs involved in the Setanta Cup this maybe comes down the list of priorities for them but for us certainly not. I think it’s ’97 the last time Rover’s were in the final of this competition so the incentive is there for us to go as far as we can in this competition.”
And while Rover’s eye cup glory it’s back to basics for Pat’s as they host Cork on Saturday night in this week’s televised league game.
Regarding the encounter he advised: “Another disappointing result, another soft goal and that’s the story of our season so far.” Adding: “We keep fighting the good fight; the players have to believe that it’ll turn. They’re working hard in training; they’re working hard in games. The problem we have now is that the longer it goes where we keep getting beat; the confidence becomes an issue and once that happens you’re on a slippery slope.”
But was quick to state that he doesn’t think confidence has been affected yet: “I certainly like to think that we’re not at that stage yet, I’m certainly, that’s what I’m telling the players but the longer it goes the more difficult that is.”
When questioned about calls for his job Kenna was again saying all the right things but made a case for himself that things have been made very difficult for him: “The fans expect us to be up there challenging and I expect us to be up there challenging, we’re not and the buck stops with me. I pick the team and if the team is not doing well that’s my fault. It’s as simple as that in my eyes.”
Then went on to make the case that he didn’t inherit the team in the same health as it was in last season: “But I mean realistically it’s not the same team, not the same squad that was here last year. There’s been significant cuts in the wage bill and everything else and you know, that has to play a part.”
Kenna’s opposing number Michael O’Neill cut a very relaxed and satisfied figure meanwhile identifying the competition as one he intends to take very seriously as the job he is doing at the Tallaght based club is going from strength to strength: “For other clubs involved in the Setanta Cup this maybe comes down the list of priorities for them but for us certainly not. I think it’s ’97 the last time Rover’s were in the final of this competition so the incentive is there for us to go as far as we can in this competition.”
And while Rover’s eye cup glory it’s back to basics for Pat’s as they host Cork on Saturday night in this week’s televised league game.
About Eoin Manning
Eoin Manning has been a part of the extratime.ie reporting team since 2009 and covers the Dublin clubs. Eoin also writes for many of the countries national newspapers and can be contacted at eoinpmanning@gmail.com View Full Profile