Brian Gartland: We can't make mistakes in Tel-Aviv

Dundalk defender Brian Gartland was brutally honest in giving Extratime.ie reporter Tom O’Connor his post-match thoughts at Tallaght Stadium last night.

The towering centre-half touched upon his side conceding yet another very avoidable goal as they went down to a 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar, leaving their Europa League destiny in the hands of others.

“We’re gutted with the result. A draw would have been a fantastic result but we just have to go out there (Tel-Aviv) now and win,” Gartland summarised.

“There is not much that Dane (Massey) can do but in the group, it’s something that’s cost us. Over in Zenit I gave away a shocker of a goal and it was an uphill battle from there so we’ll have to cut that out for Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

“We have to win on the final day and rely on other results. If we get a score draw (providing Zenit defeat AZ) that’s enough to get through. We’ll go out there positive, and try to win the game.”

It was well reported that Dundalk’s opening quarter-of-an-hour was untypically lacklustre with the winner having been scored during that period. The champions of Ireland did battle back as the first-half progressed and easily could have been level at the break.

“We had a poor start conceding so early it was always going to be an uphill battle but we did well and created chances and went at them. We had periods where we were really on top and penetrating them and getting shots off on their goal.

“Killer (Ciaran Kilduff) had a couple of chances because he’s so good in the air and we got in behind a few times, getting set-pieces and a few corners, but it wasn’t to be on the night.”

Gartland revealed that the Dundalk camp were aware of the earlier result from St. Petersburg which had the Lilywhites in pole position to progress had they gotten anything from their own Group D encounter.

This was not in the players’ mindset heading out to start the game according to Gartland who stressed the importance of only concentrating on your own game.

“Not at all, you wouldn’t have time to think about that, you try not to think about it because these games are frantic and the intensity is too high so you just have to concentrate on what’s ahead of you.”

Has the element of surprise gone from Dundalk following their earlier European exploits which saw many from the continent lean forward with interest?

“I don’t think so because these guys are complete professionals and they have played at this level a lot before so I think if there was any complacency that would have been gone on day one with the draw away to AZ. We have given a good account of ourselves but we’ll have to do that bit better in two weeks time.”