Dunne: City performance was disgraceful

Cork City may have gone over 100 days without defeat but two in the space of 96 hours has thrown them into what manager Tommy Dunne has called a ‘dogfight’ to stay off the bottom.

A second consecutive loss at Belfield wasn’t what the doctor had prescribed in the wake of City losing an unbeaten run which had stretched back to April against St Pat’s at the beginning of the week.

Now they’re within five points of bottom place, Dunne was quite rightly disgusted with his side’s lacklustre performance, labelling it as disgraceful.

“That was a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. We conceded soft goals, there was bad decision making all night. It was poor.

“To go 1-0 down to a basic thing like failing to mark a fella from a set-piece isn’t good enough. We got ourselves back into it only to again go behind to another set-piece. It was a disgrace.”

Dunne had made three changes after the Saints defeat – dropping both strikers, Vinny Sullivan and Davin O’Neill, with Keigan Parker and Andy O’Connell on in their place, as Kalen Spillane came in at the back for Kevin Murray.

He said it was down to a hectic schedule which had them playing five games in 13 days, with four of those competitive, though refused to use it as an excuse for the performance against the Students.

“It’s no excuse but with the games that have come up, we had Pats Monday, UCD tonight and another game this Monday before a cup game, we have to look at bodies and mix it around because when you’re not full-time and need to play four games in 12 days it’s tough.

“When you’re after coming off a good unbeaten run without picking up enough points, it’s difficult to pick up after a defeat as well.”

But there is absolutely no time for the team to reflect because Drogheda United, who still have designs on pushing leaders Sligo Rovers all the way, come to Turner’s Cross on Monday night in a game that neither side can afford to lose.

Dunne says the quick turnaround could be beneficial: “Maybe (the break) that’s not a bad thing, because we need to get out and perform. Actually make a few tackles and win a couple of tackles..the basics of the game.

“It’ll be difficult regardless (of Drogheda losing to Shamrock Rovers on Friday), we need to make sure we apply ourselves. Tonight wasn’t good enough, we were outplayed in the middle of the park. They controlled the game.

“Sometimes midfield needs help, the two boys (Gearóid Morrissey and Shane Duggan) are young players and get through a lot of work. After the Pats game, they needed help and it was difficult for them. They were out-fought.”