Devine disappointed at EA Sports Cup exit

Following their exit from the EA Sports Cup at the hands of League leaders Sligo Rovers on Tuesday, Derry City manager Declan Devine spoke to Extratime.ie about their 4-0 defeat and feels the game was lost when Ryan McBride was sent off.

"It's hard to take,” he said. “I felt at half-time we were well in the game, we weren't at our best but we were comfortable enough.

“We spoke about playing a high line and we gave away a poor goal only five minutes after half-time. I felt after that goal we showed good character and bossed the game for about 15 minutes where we had a couple of half chances, but we didn't take them and we were punished.

"The second goal knocked the stuffing out of the team and Ryan McBride was our second player to be sent off in three or four days. We went three at the back after the penalty, we obviously left ourselves a bit open and Sligo deserved their win."

Stewart Greacen suffered a heavy knock early in the first have, and Devine feels that the defender having to play for 50 minutes with an injury was a factor in his side's performance.

"I don't know if it played a part, but it was definitely a factor in Stewart not being at his best maybe tonight. Stewart Greacen is an outstanding player for the club and they have caused us a few problems tonight but the reality now is Stewart Greacen is missing on Friday and now Ryan McBride is too so we're down another few bodies."

Next up for Derry is the visit of the impressive Drogheda United and Devine wants to put an end to his team giving away soft goals if they are to have any chance of success this season.

"We'll be missing two of our three centre-backs, two of our three centre-midfield players and one of our main strikers so as I said we're down a lot of bodies,” Devine said.

“But we have just got to get up and get on with it and I feel if we have any chance of being successful this season we have to stop giving away soft goals because we're giving away far too many."

Devine also said he was "bitterly disappointed" to have gone out after such a heavy defeat and feels, for the second game in a row, his side fell apart after a player has been sent off.

"At the end of the day, I wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm bitterly disappointed that we've lost 4-0, absolutely gutted that we're out but the reality is we went to pieces after the sending off again because I think we fell apart after the sending off on Friday night as well.

“I feel if we had a few more of our experienced players in the team it wouldn't have happened but we were very lightweight tonight."