Russell settles for draw
Credit:
Martin Russell was a relaxed man when he spoke to extratime.ie after
Friday night’s game at Oriel Park on Friday night which was something
of a surprise given that his UCD team had just survived a second half
of relentless pressure to earn a 1-1 draw against a determined Dundalk
side. Many a manager would have been recovering from post traumatic
stress in such circumstances but there is a zen quality to Russell
that is both admirable and refreshing.
“It was a tough game”, he admitted, “ We had our better passing spells in the first half. In the second half, when we had to defend, we have defended and Evan McMillan was tremendous in the back four, Andy Boyle as well. Everybody, when they had to defend, dug in.”
Prior to this game Russell’s side had lost five of their previous six league games but when it was put to him that his team have found the second half of the season tougher than the first he agreed with a delicately elongated “Yeeeah” that suggested he didn’t agree at all.
“I’d also say that in some of the games that we’ve lost recently we haven’t played badly. There was a late goal down in Sligo and similarly we’ve played well at Pat’s (where a late goal also denied his side a point).
Russell also pointed out that a number of key injuries have disrupted the team’s momentum before going on to praise what is largely a young and inexperienced group of players for adapting so quickly to a higher standard of football.
“We’ve had a couple of injuries, Harding, Shortall, McMillan, who were part of the team earlier on in the season and that’s probably affected us as well. But the lads that have come in, they’ve taken their opportunity and that’s what’s good about the club. We’ve got boys now who, a couple of seasons ago, were playing schoolboys football and now we’re expecting them to shine at the top level. A couple of the lads last season were playing Leinster Senior football for our LSL team. They’re learning that the pace is quicker but they’re doing well and I think they’re becoming better footballers.”
One example of this was Stephen Roche who came on as a substitute at a time when the students were under concerted pressure, a change which prompted a period of much needed stability for Russell’s side.
“Yeah, that’s right, we changed it (Roche came on for Dwayne Wilson with 25 minutes left) and it worked out nicely. He came on and helped us to calm it down a little bit. We were giving the ball away a little bit too cheaply in the second half. We were fighting to get it and giving it away as quickly and that was probably more evident in the second half. But you know, all in all, the attitude of the whole squad has been great. They’re working hard but they’re enjoying the challenge at this level”
Next up for UCD are Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds and after that, Sporting Fingal at Belfield. They will both be difficult assignments for the club’s young players but as Russell strolled off into the night he left behind the strong impression that they have the perfect man to guide them through.
“It was a tough game”, he admitted, “ We had our better passing spells in the first half. In the second half, when we had to defend, we have defended and Evan McMillan was tremendous in the back four, Andy Boyle as well. Everybody, when they had to defend, dug in.”
Prior to this game Russell’s side had lost five of their previous six league games but when it was put to him that his team have found the second half of the season tougher than the first he agreed with a delicately elongated “Yeeeah” that suggested he didn’t agree at all.
“I’d also say that in some of the games that we’ve lost recently we haven’t played badly. There was a late goal down in Sligo and similarly we’ve played well at Pat’s (where a late goal also denied his side a point).
Russell also pointed out that a number of key injuries have disrupted the team’s momentum before going on to praise what is largely a young and inexperienced group of players for adapting so quickly to a higher standard of football.
“We’ve had a couple of injuries, Harding, Shortall, McMillan, who were part of the team earlier on in the season and that’s probably affected us as well. But the lads that have come in, they’ve taken their opportunity and that’s what’s good about the club. We’ve got boys now who, a couple of seasons ago, were playing schoolboys football and now we’re expecting them to shine at the top level. A couple of the lads last season were playing Leinster Senior football for our LSL team. They’re learning that the pace is quicker but they’re doing well and I think they’re becoming better footballers.”
One example of this was Stephen Roche who came on as a substitute at a time when the students were under concerted pressure, a change which prompted a period of much needed stability for Russell’s side.
“Yeah, that’s right, we changed it (Roche came on for Dwayne Wilson with 25 minutes left) and it worked out nicely. He came on and helped us to calm it down a little bit. We were giving the ball away a little bit too cheaply in the second half. We were fighting to get it and giving it away as quickly and that was probably more evident in the second half. But you know, all in all, the attitude of the whole squad has been great. They’re working hard but they’re enjoying the challenge at this level”
Next up for UCD are Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds and after that, Sporting Fingal at Belfield. They will both be difficult assignments for the club’s young players but as Russell strolled off into the night he left behind the strong impression that they have the perfect man to guide them through.
