Kevin Doherty: "We still have to fight tooth and nail for everything"
Speaking to Love Is The Drog, the United boss looked ahead to tonight's visit of Sligo Rovers and offered an update on his team's injured players.
Kevin Doherty says “silly things” being said about Drogheda United in the early stages of the season can be used as fuel to motivate his players to continue to bloody the noses of the League of Ireland’s Premier Division big hitters.
The Drogs manager aired his frustration after the scoreless draw with title-tipped St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday evening, calling out the negative narrative around his team following defeats to Dundalk in the Jim Malone Cup and Shelbourne in the season curtain-raiser, the President’s Cup.
“I was probably a little bit annoyed that people were reading so much into the Shelbourne game and the Dundalk game. People can have their own opinions, that’s fine,” Doherty told Love Is The Drog on Thursday.
“Even little things I heard around the place, like we were miles off it. We had to be ready for St Pats - and we were. It’s a bit weird alright. We hadn’t played a competitive game and there were a few silly things being said. That’s fine.
“I’m not looking for credit for anything. It’s more for my players and staff. It’s as if we hadn’t played a game of football or managed a game of football in our lives. But we’re not getting carried away.
“We got a good point against Pats, which is fine. It proves to me that we still have to fight tooth and nail for everything. There’s even a little thing with the Shelbourne game - ‘Ah, they’re full time now, how are they losing?’
Doherty continued: “We’re going to lose games. I did feel that, a little bit. It was silly. And maybe I used it to get the lads going. I’m doing those interviews 10 minutes after a match. I’m coming out and I’m really passionate about our players and I know how much they all put into it. In the cold light of day, of course people were going to tip Pats to beat us.
“I just want everyone to understand how good our players are. Does that mean we’re going to have brilliant performances every week or pick up points every week? No, it doesn’t. We are where we are.”
“After the game, I want to defend our players so much. I know how hard they work and how good they are. Straight after the game, I’m so pumped up. You have to be. You can’t just go to Inchicore and sit down and watch the match. You have to be right in the middle of it.”
Doherty received a booking late in the game for his protests after referee Neil Doyle waved away a penalty shout despite James Bolger being pulled back in the area by Saints defender Anto Breslin.
The United boss insists that despite all of the progress being made by the club off the pitch and the major successes on it, his outfit remain way behind all of the other Premier Division clubs. With that in mind, he believes Drogheda are still the team punching up on a weekly basis.
“Even me picking up the yellow card the other day, I needed to show everyone how wronged we were. It was just a reminder to the players and whoever,” he told us. “We have made really big improvements, going full time and all that. But we still have to fight for everything, we do. It gives me and us something to hang on to.”
“And we were. Does that mean that we’re going to flying and winning every game? No it doesn’t. The reason why everyone is tipping us for what they are is because of what other teams are doing. Gong full time is brilliant, but so is everyone else.”
In team news, United remain without their two Walsall FC loanees Elicha Ahui and Douglas James-Taylor who are sidelined with knee and thigh injuries respectively. Midfielder Paul Doyle (above) is also out, having picked up a hamstring injury prior to last week’s league opener.
“He just tweaked his hamstring last week, but he’s back running now. It’s not a major thing. It’s a long, long season and you don’t want to be pushing lads too soon,” Doherty said. “I really think he’s going to be a big player for us, so I didn’t want to push it too far. It’s not a long term thing at all but he certainly won’t be available for this week.”
Meanwhile, James-Taylor is due to have a consultation with a specialist on Friday so United hope to gain some clarity on when he might be available later today.
Under 20 players Conall Cronin, Sean McCarthy and Scott Brady have been training with the squad this week and were part of the panel that took part in a session on the United Park pitch on Thursday morning ahead of tonight’s match.
The Drogs will take to the field at United Park tonight for the first time since November 1, 113 days ago. There has been much water under the bridge since then. Since that game - a scoreless draw against Dundalk on the final day of the regular league season - United have become FAI Cup champions for just the second time, secured their Premier Division status and have moved from a hybrid model to full fledged professionalism.
Expect one hell of a roar when the team take to the field at the Windmill Road. Over three months on from those halcyon back-to-back weekends, this will be a different type of homecoming.
“Probably the last time we played there with something on the line was the Rovers game, or maybe even the cup semi-final. The pitch is fantastic. We’re really looking forward to it, we really do have something special there. It does feel like a long time, but we’re really looking forward to it,” Doherty said.
“The fact it’s the first time we’re playing there since the cup final, it is great to be back. Hopefully we can go and put on a performance. That’s the main thing.”
The Drogs face John Russell’s Sligo Rovers for the first time since the seven-goal trouncing at United Park last August. While their overall record against the Bit O Red is mixed, home form against tonight’s opponents are cause for optimism. United are unbeaten in their last six home matches against Sligo, winning four.
“We have got a good home record against most teams to be fair. It’s hard to really compare teams because there’s been such a massive turnover. If you look at the two teams, there’s been massive changes even from last year - particularly in theirs. It’s an interesting one.
“The last game - I’m hoping it’s not a freak - but it was a mad one. The thing I did remind the players about this week was yes, we played very well and we were on a good run but Sligo finished 15 points ahead of us last year. It’ll be a very difficult game. You can’t be relying on having a good record against them to be picking up points tomorrow.
Doherty admitted that Sligo - who have 10 new senior players in their ranks - are something of an unknown quantity at this early stage of the campaign.
“I have seen some of their pre-season games and I watched the game last week as well. You do as much as you can,” he said. “You’re almost second guessing what another manager is doing. He might do this or do that, or he might change this or change that. Or he might keep it the same. We haven’t got a massive sample size.”
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Thanks Barry, still think we need a couple of more players
Barry, just hope we don't get a repeat of the fan reaction to our first home game last season. I sat in the posh seats 😉 in the main stand, and was appalled at the mass exodus on the opposite side on 65 minutes , the players of course seen this. The booing of the Team at the final whistle still galls me.... This is a fresh start with a very different squad of players, so let's strap ourselves in for the roller coaster season that will unfold before us 💜💙