Boss Dunne feeling the strain ahead of ‘must win’ tie against Limerick FC

TAKING just one point from their last two games means Galway United travel to the Markets Field tomorrow under a little bit more pressure than they would have liked when facing the Premier Division’s bottom side, Limerick FC (6.30pm).

The suggestion of pressure comes from United manager Tommy Dunne, who said that while he was once again unhappy with how his side defended in their past two games, he was equally disappointed at his side’s failure to take their chances.

“We had enough chances to beat Sligo last Saturday, and we could have robbed a point against Dundalk with a couple of chances to equalise at the end of the game. We take those chances and we are not under as much pressure going down to Limerick.

“That’s not the case, so we really need a result down there but look, whether we win, we lose or we draw, it won’t decide anything, there is still a long way to go in the season,” Dunne told Tribune Sport yesterday.

United were by far the better team in the Connacht derby up in the Showgrounds last Saturday, but missed a number of glorious chances to take a deserved win. Then on Tuesday, they found themselves three goals down to league leaders and defending champions, Dundalk, before mounting what was a fingertip away from being one of, if not the, best ever comebacks at the ground.

“Their ’keeper made a great save at the end to deny us, but really we gave ourselves too much to do in that game. It’s the same story again, not being able to defend set pieces. Teams like Dundalk, they will create chances from open play anyway so you don’t need to be presenting them with chances from set-pieces.

“They players, they say they’ve been blocked from covering runners, but why aren’t other teams having their players blocked? We have to need it more, we have to want it more – in order to develop, this club needs to stay in the Premier Division, and the players have to show they want to stay in the top division,” Dunne said yesterday.

Having played two games in four days, United have kept training to a minimum this week, instead opting for recovery sessions last Sunday and again on Wednesday after the games against Sligo and Dundalk; and after having the day off yesterday, the players will have a light training session today.

“There were a few niggles after Tuesday’s game, they don’t look too serious but we won’t know for sure until training on Friday – we’ll have a look at the players before we decide on anything for Saturday.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.