Tim Clancy: 'We've been on the wrong end a couple late goals this season and it felt sore, but I think we got away with one'

David Wilson reports from Head in the Game Park

Last year’s First Division champions Drogheda United have so far demonstrated all the qualities needed to stay in the top-flight – and their manager Tim Clancy has been pleased with their start.

However, following his side’s late draw against Bohemians, Clancy admits that he felt his teams late point was fortunate.

“We weren’t at it today, probably our poorest performance of the season so to get a goal late on definitely feels like a plus for us,” Drogs boss Tim Clancy said after the game.

“We’ve been on the wrong end a couple late goals this season and it felt sore, but I think we got away with one.”

Drogs have been a thorn in the side for every opposition they have played against this year and have yet to be beaten by more than one goal.

“The effort and application was perfect but we didn’t play well. It was the first time we’ve came off the pitch this season without doing ourselves justice, but we kept on going showed good character and we nicked a point late on,” said Clancy.

“We’ve been excellent for eight out of nine games. In our application and work-rate we’ve been excellent in all nine games. Today we were just a little bit off it but that could be the accumulation of games in quick succession.

“We were missing a good few bodies there today that would have helped freshen things up. So, to come away with a point against a very good Bohs team is very pleasing,” he continued.

Waterford are next up for the Boynesiders at the RSC – a side who they beat on the opening day of the season. And Clancy is hoping to have shortened the injury list by then.

“We’ll have a few back for Saturday, which is going to help us massively. It will allow us to freshen things up and give us different options in different positions. Its going to be a very difficult game.

“We scored an own goal in the last minute here to win it first day out and I think they have improved since then so it’s going to be very difficult.”

Waterford have chosen not to fill their bench with academy players – picking just two outfield substitutes on Friday night against Dundalk and picked three on Monday versus Shamrock Rovers.

“You don’t know what’s going on in clubs behind the scenes that’s none of my business what’s going on down there.

“Kevin (Sheedy) has obviously came in and done a very good job with a young squad and they’re gelling with every game that goes past they’re getting better.

“We know it’s going to be a really difficult performance for us to go down there and if we’re not at it and not at the very top of our game we’re not going to get anything out of it,” said Clancy.