Cook calls for more Sligo hunger
Credit:
Paul Cook was left in despair after Sligo Rovers let a 1-0 lead slip and allowed Bohemians to emerge victorious with a 2-1 win. A fantastic first half display from Sligo looked as if it would be enough to seal the win but Pat Fenlon’s side battled their way to three points.
Cook admitted that his side’s second-half ultimately cost them the game: “For as good as we were first half we were very poor in the second half. I just made that very clear to the lads, without hunger and desire we won’t win football games.”
He felt that Sligo gifted Bohs the two goals but also credited the enthusiastic performance of the Gypsies, “Bohemians came out in the second half and we certainly gave them a leg-up in any goals they scored. They had a lot more desire than us to win the game. For any manager that’s a concern because we just think if we play good football teams are going to let us beat them.”
Sligo are now fifth in the Premier Division and Cook said his team must now learn from their second-half performance, “Unfortunately we’re having a bit of shock at the minute. Football can be a cruel game. We had a mad five minutes and we got punished for it. That happens and there’s no feeling sorry for ourselves.”
Bohemians came out in the second half fighting and were not going to let Sligo win the game as easily as it looked. Killian Brennan, Stephen Traynor and Anto Flood were all the main men for Bohemians and the trio were to thank for the threat of their side.
Cook acknowledged the strong passion shown by the opposition: “They had far more hunger than us in the second half. They wanted to win more balls and they put the ball in good areas and continually caused us problems. It’s something that we have to learn quickly because it’s an unforgiving league.”
Defensive errors lead to both of the Bohemians goals and Sligo were just unable to get an equaliser late in the second half. They were unlucky not to double their lead in the first half after Eoin Doyle missed several brilliant opportunities.
“If we’d have scored the second goal I do feel we would have gone on to win the game. Unfortunately we didn’t. I don’t really know if Brendan (Clarke) had a save to make in the 90 minutes, I might be wrong there but I don’t recall us having too much pressure. We’re just gifting teams the goals at the minute”, added the Sligo boss.
Despite the defeat and poor second-half performance, Cook is willing to take the responsibility and look forward to the next game against UCD: “You can’t keep shouting at players the whole time. Sometimes you have to take the responsibility yourself. Football’s a funny game, there’s a long way to go. Every club has highs and lows but at the minute we’re having a low for sure”.
Cook admitted that his side’s second-half ultimately cost them the game: “For as good as we were first half we were very poor in the second half. I just made that very clear to the lads, without hunger and desire we won’t win football games.”
He felt that Sligo gifted Bohs the two goals but also credited the enthusiastic performance of the Gypsies, “Bohemians came out in the second half and we certainly gave them a leg-up in any goals they scored. They had a lot more desire than us to win the game. For any manager that’s a concern because we just think if we play good football teams are going to let us beat them.”
Sligo are now fifth in the Premier Division and Cook said his team must now learn from their second-half performance, “Unfortunately we’re having a bit of shock at the minute. Football can be a cruel game. We had a mad five minutes and we got punished for it. That happens and there’s no feeling sorry for ourselves.”
Bohemians came out in the second half fighting and were not going to let Sligo win the game as easily as it looked. Killian Brennan, Stephen Traynor and Anto Flood were all the main men for Bohemians and the trio were to thank for the threat of their side.
Cook acknowledged the strong passion shown by the opposition: “They had far more hunger than us in the second half. They wanted to win more balls and they put the ball in good areas and continually caused us problems. It’s something that we have to learn quickly because it’s an unforgiving league.”
Defensive errors lead to both of the Bohemians goals and Sligo were just unable to get an equaliser late in the second half. They were unlucky not to double their lead in the first half after Eoin Doyle missed several brilliant opportunities.
“If we’d have scored the second goal I do feel we would have gone on to win the game. Unfortunately we didn’t. I don’t really know if Brendan (Clarke) had a save to make in the 90 minutes, I might be wrong there but I don’t recall us having too much pressure. We’re just gifting teams the goals at the minute”, added the Sligo boss.
Despite the defeat and poor second-half performance, Cook is willing to take the responsibility and look forward to the next game against UCD: “You can’t keep shouting at players the whole time. Sometimes you have to take the responsibility yourself. Football’s a funny game, there’s a long way to go. Every club has highs and lows but at the minute we’re having a low for sure”.
