Cousins apologises for derby defeat
Credit:
A despondent Longford Town manager Tony Cousins has issued an apology to the club’s fans after his side fell to their fifth defeat of the season against rivals Athlone Town on Saturday night last.
Both Chris Deans and Thomas Hyland were sent off for the visitors in a game that was settled by first-half strikes from Robbie Farrell and Richie O'Hanlon.
Cousins thinks it is pointless try to deflect blame elsewhere and has promised an improvement after watching his team put in a performance that he felt wasn't good enough.
"It's not a time to make excuses, it’s a time to apologise to supporters. We let them down big-time," said Cousins.
"I just want to tell them that we will improve. If it’s not with the players that we have it’ll be with other players. It’s come to a time now that the players have to start producing.”
The season may still be in the early stages, but the same problems that have cost the Town in previous games were at fault yet again as individual errors cost them.
Before this game, Athlone had failed to find the net in their previous three outings and had only scored three goals this season, but when they were gifted chances by Longford they duly took them.
Cousins clearly wasn’t happy with the two goals that his side conceded and the defensive side of things is something he has vowed to work on over the coming weeks.
"The first goal was a shambles from our point of view. I’m repeating myself but it’s silly mistakes again, ones that shouldn’t happen," he said.
"We’ve a way of setting up defensively and people didn’t do their job. For their second goal your man was unmarked at the backpost.
"I thought for 15 minutes before half-time we came into the game. I also thought we done well in the second-half but when you’re chasing the game it’s hard."
Cousins feels it is about time that his players woke up to the fact that there is a lot depending on how they perform each week as the future of the club is at stake.
The former Galway United boss has asked for a response from his team as they attempt to put this defeat behind them and get back to winning ways.
"I let the players know what people are doing around the club; trying to get money to keep the club going. All they’re looking for is a bit of honesty, heart and a decent performance," he stated.
"That’s the least I expect from the players. I’m looking for a response and I will get it right here. If it’s not with these players, it’ll be with other players. At the end of the day that wasn’t good enough. It’s as simple as that."
Both Chris Deans and Thomas Hyland were sent off for the visitors in a game that was settled by first-half strikes from Robbie Farrell and Richie O'Hanlon.
Cousins thinks it is pointless try to deflect blame elsewhere and has promised an improvement after watching his team put in a performance that he felt wasn't good enough.
"It's not a time to make excuses, it’s a time to apologise to supporters. We let them down big-time," said Cousins.
"I just want to tell them that we will improve. If it’s not with the players that we have it’ll be with other players. It’s come to a time now that the players have to start producing.”
The season may still be in the early stages, but the same problems that have cost the Town in previous games were at fault yet again as individual errors cost them.
Before this game, Athlone had failed to find the net in their previous three outings and had only scored three goals this season, but when they were gifted chances by Longford they duly took them.
Cousins clearly wasn’t happy with the two goals that his side conceded and the defensive side of things is something he has vowed to work on over the coming weeks.
"The first goal was a shambles from our point of view. I’m repeating myself but it’s silly mistakes again, ones that shouldn’t happen," he said.
"We’ve a way of setting up defensively and people didn’t do their job. For their second goal your man was unmarked at the backpost.
"I thought for 15 minutes before half-time we came into the game. I also thought we done well in the second-half but when you’re chasing the game it’s hard."
Cousins feels it is about time that his players woke up to the fact that there is a lot depending on how they perform each week as the future of the club is at stake.
The former Galway United boss has asked for a response from his team as they attempt to put this defeat behind them and get back to winning ways.
"I let the players know what people are doing around the club; trying to get money to keep the club going. All they’re looking for is a bit of honesty, heart and a decent performance," he stated.
"That’s the least I expect from the players. I’m looking for a response and I will get it right here. If it’s not with these players, it’ll be with other players. At the end of the day that wasn’t good enough. It’s as simple as that."
