Russell proud of UCD effort despite loss

A 2-1 defeat away to Bohemians on Friday night meant that UCD’s season didn’t get off to the best of starts. Despite having the better of the opening exchanges, Martin Russell’s game plan was turned on its head in the 20^th minute with the awarding of a dubious penalty for the home side and the sending off of left back Mark Langtry.

After the game, ExtraTime.iecaught up with the UCD manager, who was pleased with his team’s efforts despite the circumstances.

“It’s a defeat, but with ten men - I think we’ve had to go a long time with that against Bohemians.

“We’ve put a big effort in to get back into the game and to play ourselves back into the game. Not to come away with any points after the effort we have put in is disappointing.”

Turning to the contentious decision on which the game turned, we asked Russell if he thought it was a penalty or a red card.

“It’s hard to tell first if it was a penalty. The ball is going away from goal, it’s a bad touch and I think the keeper is probably going to claim the ball. So I don’t think it was a definite goal scoring chance.

“Whether it was a penalty, I need to see it again.

“But definitely I don’t think it was a sending off. And if it was then surely our peno was a sending off if that was the case.”

Having gone a goal and a man down, the Students were shaken for a while but emerged still attempting to keep the ball on the ground refusing to rely on hit-and-hope long balls.

“We just tried to keep on playing; we tried to get the ball forward a little bit earlier. We played with two up with ten men, so we were positive.

“To get back into the game at 1-1 was good and then not to see it through was disappointing.”

With the start of the season, so comes the unforgiving onslaught of fixtures and next on the not so distant horizon for UCD is another trip to Dalymount and Bohemians, this time an EA Sports Cup tie on Monday.

“We’ll make changes. There’s a few nursing injuries anyway and I’m sure Bohemians will do the same as well so there will be players getting run outs for both sides and we’ll try to do our best to get into the next round of the EA [Sports Cup], because we want to do as well we can in it.”

The Students return to league action next Friday night when they entertain Derry City in Belfield. Mark Langtry will be suspended for this game.

Going into the tie against the Candystripes, Russell is adamant that he will maintain the same style for the game.

“We won’t change our style. Individuals will come in but we’ll expect to carry on where the lads left off tonight.

“We’ll expect to pass and move the ball and try and create good football. The style won’t change but individuals will have to be adapted because of suspensions and probably injury wise.”