Dunne laments leaky rearguard

Cork City manager Tommy Dunne lamented his team’s defending after seeing them ship three goals at home to Bray Wanderers in a 3-1 defeat at Turner’s Cross on Friday night.

The Leesiders were the better team on the night, but failed to make countless chances pay. Dunne, speaking immediately after the game, said that his defenders need to step it up.

“We’ve dominated the match no doubt. We didn’t start in the first five or ten minutes and we went one down due to not defending properly once again, and we easily could have been two down minutes later. But then we got into the game and we started to control the match and we got ourselves a few chances, albeit not clear cut chances, in the first half. We got ourselves into good positions and we had opportunities.

“Half time came and there was no real panic. I thought we had done okay and the game had gone alright for us apart from the goal we conceded, but they always looked dangerous on the break in fairness to them.

“The second half came and we kept dominating, but then they got a soft second goal and forced us to chase the game. If you’re chasing games you’re leaving yourself open, and that’s when teams soak up pressure and hit you on the break.

“The second goal killed us from that point of view in that, it’s okay dominating, but you have to be patient to try and create your opportunity - but you have to defend properly as well. We didn’t defend properly.”

Bray’s first victory at the Cross in 26 years was City’s fourth home loss of the 2013 season, one that has seen them pick up just seven points from a possible 21 at home.

“The home form is a problem for us. We’re not so bad on the road, but when we’re at home to crowd is expecting performances and expecting wins, and that’s something we’re not giving to them. In matches when you fall behind and have to chase games you can feel the tension around the ground and it’s not conducive. We haven’t had a clean sheet since the first game of the season.

“If any team defends like we’re defending, you’re going to have a problem. I think that’s an aspect of our game we’re going to really have to work hard on to try and eradicate.”

Friday evening also saw the first time that the Cork City supporters really turned on their manager. Before they had directed abuse at the team in general, but after witnessing the defeat turned their attention to Dunne himself.

“I’m there to be shot at. If the team doesn’t perform and the fans want to vent their anger it should be at me, and I’ve no issues with that. I wouldn’t say that we didn’t perform tonight with regards to playing, but we’re doing silly things. We’re all frustrated, from my point of view and the club’s, as we’ve worked so hard to get back into the Premier Division.

“From that aspect it’s not good enough, and we have to take responsibility and hold our hand up. We’ve got to work to get it better.”

Many critics have suggested that the lack of a consistent back four is a major reason that Cork have struggled to keep a clean sheet, and it’s one the Dubliner agrees with. Dan Murray, a regular fixture at home matches, has been unable to make away games due to work commitments, while club captain Kevin Murray has been absent due to injury.

“We don’t have a situation that’s ideal. It’s not conducive to continuity and to get things right at the back. There is chopping and changing, but you see it week in week out with teams be it through injuries or whatever, but you have to perform.

Thoughts down south now turn to Monday night when the Rebel Army travel to Wexford in the EA SPORTS Cup, and Dunne revealed that he will be making changes in personnel for the tie.

“There’s other people who we’ll try to get in and give a game. I know it’s a different competition, but we’ve got to start winning games, and the best way to start doing that is to keep clean sheets and that’s what we’ve got to get back to.”

“I get the impression that one or two fellas don’t think it matters whether they perform or not, and when you’re doing that there’s a problem.”