Russell pleased with UCD passing game
Credit:
After seeing his team concede four goals to a rampant Sligo Rovers on
Satuday evening, UCD Manager Martin Russell spoke exclusively to
Extratime.ie. Two goals from Raffaele Cretaro sandwiched goals from
Eoin Doyle and Daryl Horgan in an emphatic 40 minute spell for the
hosts. Indeed the opening goals for the Bit O'Red came just before
halftime and sucked the life blood out of the Students who had until
then been the better performers.
Martin Russell couldn't deny the inopportune timing of the opening goals scored by the hosts, "To play so well, and then to get punished, two quick goals just before halftime, it was a big blow". Indeed it could have all been different for the Students had they availed of their early chances, "We had them chances early on in the game, and we really needed the confidence boost we would have got from that, but they deserved to win, they've a good side, plenty of resources."
A prevailing aspect of the encounter was the level of maturity shown by the hosts in the face of the unrelenting tenacity of the Students, Russell is keenly aware of the learning curve his side are traversing, "We've got a lot of lads still learning, it was never going to be easy. But I think we can take heart from good passages in the game, we've got some good young players that in time will be better again."
Few teams will travel to the Showgrounds and try beat the Bit O'Red at their own passing game but UCD held their own for the majority of the first half and Russell is conscious of playing attractive football much like his western counterpart, "Like Sligo we want the ball passed fast and moved on the ground and to be entertaining and we played good football in the first half and we would have liked a better reward for it but it wasn't to be".
Consistency has been a sore issue for the Students in the past few weeks, and from a UCD perspective the disparity between the 1st and 2nd half performances adequately framed that issue, Russell had this to say, "The two goals before halftime gave them such a boost, and gave our lads a body blow and sometimes it's hard to pick yourself up straight away but we'll keep on encouraging the lads, for a lot of them it's their first senior campaign at the top level, it's a work in progress".
"Straight away we're looking forward to the next day out, all the lads should be. They should be availing of every opportunity that this club is able to provide for them and do the best they can."
UCD next go out against Drogheda United on Tuesday night (Kick-off 7.45)
Martin Russell couldn't deny the inopportune timing of the opening goals scored by the hosts, "To play so well, and then to get punished, two quick goals just before halftime, it was a big blow". Indeed it could have all been different for the Students had they availed of their early chances, "We had them chances early on in the game, and we really needed the confidence boost we would have got from that, but they deserved to win, they've a good side, plenty of resources."
A prevailing aspect of the encounter was the level of maturity shown by the hosts in the face of the unrelenting tenacity of the Students, Russell is keenly aware of the learning curve his side are traversing, "We've got a lot of lads still learning, it was never going to be easy. But I think we can take heart from good passages in the game, we've got some good young players that in time will be better again."
Few teams will travel to the Showgrounds and try beat the Bit O'Red at their own passing game but UCD held their own for the majority of the first half and Russell is conscious of playing attractive football much like his western counterpart, "Like Sligo we want the ball passed fast and moved on the ground and to be entertaining and we played good football in the first half and we would have liked a better reward for it but it wasn't to be".
Consistency has been a sore issue for the Students in the past few weeks, and from a UCD perspective the disparity between the 1st and 2nd half performances adequately framed that issue, Russell had this to say, "The two goals before halftime gave them such a boost, and gave our lads a body blow and sometimes it's hard to pick yourself up straight away but we'll keep on encouraging the lads, for a lot of them it's their first senior campaign at the top level, it's a work in progress".
"Straight away we're looking forward to the next day out, all the lads should be. They should be availing of every opportunity that this club is able to provide for them and do the best they can."
UCD next go out against Drogheda United on Tuesday night (Kick-off 7.45)
