Russell pleased with improvement
Credit:
UCD manager Martin Russell said he was “delighted” with the spirit that his side showed during Friday night’s 1-1 draw away to St. Patricks Athletic. He also believes that his team played much better than they had against Bohemians the previous Friday.
“We kept going and got the goal at the death. We asked for an improvement on last week's performance and we definitely got that. I think the point was a fair enough result. The performance gives us a good confidence booster that we needed” revealed Russell.
However the ‘Student’s’ manager still believes that there is plenty of room for improvement “We have still got areas to work on. The quality of ball and movement will have to be better to get more chances and to get more goals but we'll keep working at it. It's a younger side than previously and some of them are experiencing top level football for the first season.”
Russell also revealed that UCD will continue with their philosophy of keeping the ball on the ground, but that his team need to work on retaining possession. “We try and play it on the ground and play decent passing football. Hopefully we do entertain. Sometimes again it borders on naivety when we give the ball away and maybe not in the greatest areas. I think you've got to be prepared to play. We then encourage the lads to grow with it”, stated the UCD boss.
Friday night’s 1-1- draw leaves the Belfield club in 8th place in the Premier Division. Not surprisingly their manager is realistic about his team’s priority for the season. “Being realistic, for us our aim is to be in the Premier Division next season. It would be an achievement but we don't unduly fear anybody. We respect other sides. We feel that we've come here tonight and given them (St. Patricks Athletic) a game. If we can do that in each and every game the lads will grow”, added Russell.
“We kept going and got the goal at the death. We asked for an improvement on last week's performance and we definitely got that. I think the point was a fair enough result. The performance gives us a good confidence booster that we needed” revealed Russell.
However the ‘Student’s’ manager still believes that there is plenty of room for improvement “We have still got areas to work on. The quality of ball and movement will have to be better to get more chances and to get more goals but we'll keep working at it. It's a younger side than previously and some of them are experiencing top level football for the first season.”
Russell also revealed that UCD will continue with their philosophy of keeping the ball on the ground, but that his team need to work on retaining possession. “We try and play it on the ground and play decent passing football. Hopefully we do entertain. Sometimes again it borders on naivety when we give the ball away and maybe not in the greatest areas. I think you've got to be prepared to play. We then encourage the lads to grow with it”, stated the UCD boss.
Friday night’s 1-1- draw leaves the Belfield club in 8th place in the Premier Division. Not surprisingly their manager is realistic about his team’s priority for the season. “Being realistic, for us our aim is to be in the Premier Division next season. It would be an achievement but we don't unduly fear anybody. We respect other sides. We feel that we've come here tonight and given them (St. Patricks Athletic) a game. If we can do that in each and every game the lads will grow”, added Russell.
