Russell remains pragmatic following Sligo defeat

There were to be no surprises in the Belfield Bowl on Monday night when the reigning League of Ireland champions Sligo Rovers came to town and top met bottom.

Pre-match comparisons were made to the corresponding fixture last year when the Student’s stunned the then unbeaten Bit O’Red by beating them 1-0. However such thoughts were dispelled in the 27th minute when Sligo striker Aaron Greene collected a clever Kieran Djilali backheel and buried the ball past Mark McGinley from the edge of the box.

The result was confirmed in the second half when first David Cawley and then Aaron Greene again made it 3-0 to give Ian Baraclough a comfortable win that never saw his side go passed third gear.

After the game, Extratime.ie caught up with UCD manager Martin Russell to ask him his thoughts on the game.

“Ya, they’ve been playing with the height of confidence. We knew that on the run of results they’ve had they’d be a hard act to stop tonight. But we tried to keep it as competitive as we could.

“I think in the first half we made them work to get into the lead.

“In fact they didn’t have too many shots and the goal they scored was off a counter and we might have knicked the first goal if we had pulled the ball back across the goal. Instead they’ve countered and scored.”

A pragmatic Russell also conceded that the visitors were deserved winners while admiring the embarrassment of riches at Baraclough’s disposal.

“From there on in I think they’re emphatic winners and as I said they’re playing with a lot of confidence and they’ll be a hard act to stop now.

“It’s early on in the season but still, I think they’ve got strength and depth and I think it will be a good side that does stop them.”

The home side were in the game for long spells of the game but ultimately never troubled Gary Rogers in the away goals. Extratime.ie asked Russell was he concerned by the lack of chances created by his team.

“Ya. I mean we wouldn’t create loads of chances, and the ones like that instance there where there’s a chance to pull the ball back across the edge of the box, maybe for a goal, you’ve got to take them against a team like Sligo.

“They’re not going to give you loads of chances, so you’ve got to maximise the ones you get and we weren’t able to do that tonight.

“But there was still a lot of good stuff in the first half, and again when you consider that we’ve got Seán Coyne 17, Seán Russell and Dean Clarke under nineteens, James Kavanagh as well under nineteen - you know, it’s a young young side.

“This time last year we had Paul Corry, Paul O’Conor, Graham Rusk... all those players that were took... Chrissie Lyons, Nangle... all that were took at the end of the season away from us. Trying to rebuild again with even a younger bunch, then asked to go and beat the champions – it’s a big ask.

“But they’ve still seen what it is to play against the best, and hopefully they can learn from that and that is really what I think the club stands for in terms of developing young players.”

The UCD team that took to the field against Sligo Rovers were on average 21.5 years old, with David McMillan at just over 24 being the oldest. With such a young team, Russell admitted it would be easy for heads to drop but philosophically highlighted the opportunity that these young players have ahead of them.

“It is easy. I mean the other games, well Bohs, Dundalk and Bray were one goal games that could have gone either way. We probably should have won in Bray to be honest, to get the win there, but you’re right. It’s [about] keeping them positive.

“Again what we say is they’re fortunate in many ways. How many young players go and get the chance to test themselves against the champions of the country.

“As long as they’re willing to learn, they’ll make progression. But it takes time.”

Captain Mick Leahy has been a big loss to the Students this season, and his experience has been sorely missed as he has yet to feature with a knee problem. His return appears to be another few weeks away yet.

“I think he’s had an injection last week, so maybe if the injection works [he’ll be back] in a couple of weeks time. Robbie Benson is also out.

“With the squad that we have, even compared to last year, the fact that it is less experienced - any experience we can get in, any strength and depth we can get in is always useful.

“Hopefully Mick may return, but the two centre halves tonight I thought coped very well for the majority of the game. They’re two young bright centre halves as well and as I say they’re still young, they’re still learning and they can only get better.”

Indeed the former St Patrick’s Athletic player was quick to heap more praise on his young centre backs who became the first centre backs to keep Anthony Elding scoreless in the league this season.

“I thought they were very competitive throughout. It was one of the areas I thought we were good at. I thought maybe probably, which the boys will reflect on themselves, some of the distribution could have been better.

“But in terms of being centre halves and competing with the quality that Sligo had I thought they did well.”

Next up for UCD is a trip Turner’s Cross this Friday to play Cork City. The Students will be hoping that Gary Burke will overcome a dead leg that forced him off against Sligo as they go in search of their first win of the season.