Tactical View - Cobh Ramblers vs Cork City

One of Cobh's main problems this season has been hitting the back of the net. Just seventeen all season - but seven of them have come in their last three games. In the first half against Cork City they simply didn't get into the attacking third often enough, let alone look like scoring. But goals won’t be the problem if they can play like they did after the interval for their remaining eight league games.

The first half of this Rebel County derby belonged to Cork. Manager Alan Mathews set his side up in a more rigid 4-4-2 than normal. With Denis Behan not fit to start perhaps his hand was forced somewhat. Liam Kearney was up top alongside Lawrie Dudfield.

Kearney does his best work when allowed to roam, ideally from a starting position on the left, but on Saturday he was more or less an out and out striker. Because he wanders looking to be involved it sometimes leaves the left hand side with a deficit - one which many teams have tried to exploit this season - for example in Richmond Park against Pats, Johnny McDonnell and Cyril Walsh had done their homework and started with Keith Fahey on the right hand side.

Another reason why I expected Kearney to feature on the left was the suspension of Cobh Alan Carey. That meant Kenny Coleman started at right back, and having Kearney running at him could have proved profitable.

Cork didn't take to the task in a gung ho manner, at practically all times three of the midfield four showed discipline. Either Darragh Ryan or Darren Murphy pushed forward, but only one at a time. Mathew’s side play the best passing football in the league but their work rate when not in possession often goes unnoticed.

That pressure on the ball when Cobh were in possession forced the home side to go long quickly to Ross Gaynor. Gaynor has pace, and his movement is good, but the chances of him profiting in this manner against four defenders were always going to be slim.

The reason Gaynor was so isolated was because the other forward, Graham Cummins, kept on dropping deep into midfield. Cummins was feeling the need to go and chase Joe Gamble and Colin Healy as they started moves from deep lying midfield positions. This all meant that whenever Ramblers did get the ball back, they conceded possession all too quickly.

Neither of the Cork centre backs followed Cummins in, and on one or two occasions he did find himself in a pocket of space, but his instinct was always to look over the top for Gaynor, which as explained was just playing into Corks hands

With pressure on the man with the ball, and a lack of quality in the delivery, Corks back four could have easily afforded to step up, play a high line and squeeze things - but they didn't. Instead they tracked the runs. Placing fate in the flag is a high stakes game, and one that Mathews has a dislike for. With no disrespect to Cobh it simple wasn't necessary. Besides, for Corks passing game to be as effective as it can be, there needs to be space for players to take advantage of - so compressing the game into a smaller area would be counter productive.

Cork moved the ball crisply and quickly in the first forty five, changing the point of attack on numerous occasions in the same passage of play, and could have easily had more then one goal to show for their endeavours.

The second half was a different story, and will give Cobh fans great belief that their side can escape the trouble they are in - the on-field trouble at least.

Cummins pushed up alongside Gaynor, immediately giving Dan Murray and Sean Kelly more to think about. In the first half Greg O'Halloran sat close to his centre backs, with John Kearney a little bit more advanced - those two started the second half playing alongside each other, a further ten yards up the field.

Davin O'Neill showed in the first half on one or two occasions that he had the beating of left back Danny Murphy, and in the second half Cobh concentrated on getting him on the ball more often. O'Neill tucked in when Cork had the ball, but quickly gave an angle for a pass as soon as Cobh regained possession. It was a tactic that exposed Murphy, with O'Neill flying past him on a number of occasions. And when Kearney was switched to the left wing with twenty minutes to go, O'Neill had more joy.

Cobh were working hard off the ball, and rushing Cork. The visitors struggled to get their passing game going, and weren't helped by the referee’s leniency towards Cobh's more aggressive and physical approach.

Whereas in the first half everything was going to the feet of Corks front men, the second half saw Mathews side go much more direct - even before Denis Behan was introduced. High balls travelling distances in the air couldn't suit Cobh's centre back pairing of Kevin Murray and Shane Guthrie any better.

Daryl Kavanagh was introduced mid way through the half, and that was the games real turning point. He started on the left, and that gave Cobh two wide outlets that could really cause damage.

Kavanagh had an immediate impact - being fouled on the first three occasions he had possession. With a low centre of gravity he has an ability to turn defenders with ease. His manager Henderson is of the belief that the opposition knows what he is going to do, but just aren't able to do anything about it.

Cork weren't defending well, but not just their back four, their midfielders were second to the fifty fifty balls, and it was starting to look like all their recent games were beginning to take their toll on a limited squad. Interestingly Cork had played four times since Cobh's last outing on August 30th.

With ten minutes remaining Kavanagh went upfront alongside Gaynor. Twice more he got on the ball, this time without being fouled, before breaking free on the left with three minutes to go. He beat Sean Kelly for pace on the outside, and was then brought crashing to the ground in the box.

Next Saturday Cobh travel to Sligo to face another side weak on numbers. Sligo's win over UCD on Friday all but ensures they won’t be dragged into the relegation mix, so with Cobh needing points, and in the best form they have been in all season, getting a positive result in the North West is very achievable.