McCaffrey - We have to start converting chances
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Dundalk manager Sean McCaffrey stated that he was disappointed with his side’s 3-0 loss to Sligo Rovers on Saturday after the Lilywhites dominated the first half. A second half Gavin Peers header was topped off by two strikes from Danny North to send Dundalk home with nothing.
“I thought that in the first half we were the better side. We created three chances and we didn’t take any of them. In the second half then Sligo created two chances in the first six or seven minutes and took both of them. The game changed and Sligo dominated the second half but if we had scored any of those chances in the first half it could have been a different game. It was disappointing”, McCaffrey told ExtraTime.ie.
Youth player Ben McLaughlin was particularly impressive for the Louth side on the night and created several chances. McCaffrey was full of praise for the youngster but was sceptical about whether or not young players can make a living from the League of Ireland.
“He’s a very good player. He’s only 16. I think we had eight teenagers in the side and that’s good from the future point of view but unfortunately in the League of Ireland you might not get a future.”
Dundalk have only picked up five points this season, winning just one game. The former Republic of Ireland underage manager is concerned by the lack of points his side are picking up but was impressed with Dundalk’s first half performance.
“We need to start picking up points. I’m not concerned with how we are playing or the quality of player. Tonight in the first half we outplayed arguably as good a side as there is in the country for a full half at their ground.
“We played very well, we created the chances but we didn’t take them. Then in the second half the first ten minutes were crucial, they were under pressure coming in at half-time. It was very obvious they weren’t happy with each other. In the first ten minutes we just didn’t concentrate and got done twice.”
Whilst praising the team’s performance, McCaffrey stressed his concern about Dundalk’s wastefulness in front of goal.
“We have to start converting chances. We’ve had twenty four chances in the five matches we’ve played and we’ve only scored two. That’s something that needs to be addressed. It’s not so much that the players can’t finish. Sometimes you get a mental block and you get a couple of goals and everything goes your way. Sometimes in games you need wee breaks and we didn’t get them”.
