Joey O'Brien warns Shelbourne's title defence at risk from ‘bad individual mistakes' ahead of ‘massive game' vs Drogheda
JOEY O'BRIEN reckons Shelbourne's title defence will be derailed if the Reds keep making mistakes.
The champions host FAI Cup holders Drogheda United this evening in a clash brought forward from July because of both sides' European commitments.
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Joey O'Brien warned Shelbourne their title defence could be scuppered if they keep making mistakes
Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
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Shelbourne lost to Bohemians
Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
But Shels' current issues are at home as they have won just one of their last seven games and lost three of their last four — including last
The unpredictable nature of the season means they are still just seven points off top spot.
But assistant manager O'Brien — who saw Mark Coyle and Ali Coote sent off in Dalymount — acknowledged that the club's problems are all too predictable.
He said: 'It's just been bad individual mistakes. And the lads know . . . if it continues we're not going to go where we want to go.
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'You can do a lot of work and talk about certain things, but if you keep making mistakes regarding the backline . . .
'With the goals we've been giving away, it's an uphill task. There's obviously a lot of good teams. Not a lot of difference in a lot of the teams I don't think. The first goal is a massive thing.'
Shelbourne have kept just three clean sheets all year and none in the last seven games.
Last season, they were also almost unstoppable after scoring first — dropping just four points after grabbing the opener.
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But this term, they have won just five of the nine games where they have taken the lead.
O'Brien — who stood in for Friday's derby with boss Damien Duff banned and taking up a vantage point behind the Des Kelly Stand — added: 'We got a turnover of players . . . the lads leaving in the summer.
Shelbourne manager Damien Duff gives sweet birthday shoutout to his mother after his side's draw against St Pat's
'And then again this season there's been a turnover of players. So it's finding a way. But the standout thing is we weren't making mistakes.
'We weren't giving up goals that we've given up this year. You look at a lot of the goals we've given up, they've been really, really poor from an individual point of view. Mistakes, OGs. Some mad stuff.'
Shels are short defensively without Paddy Barrett, Sam Bone and Lewis through injury, while Tyreke Wilson has only just returned.
And they will be further hit tonight as captain Coyle — a midfielder moonlighting in defence for the past month — is suspended after being sent off against Bohs.
'MASSIVE GAME'
But ex-Ireland ace O'Brien is confident Shels can turn it around.
He continued: 'Our performances have been good in a lot of the games we've played in.
'Seeing how much possession you have, seeing how many chances you created, even the amount of chances we give up in games, there hasn't been many this year.
'It's great to have the game on Monday. Going into the two games now in a week at home, it's a great opportunity for us to go out and perform.
'I think our performances at home have been quite good all season. It's a massive game on Monday for the boys.
'Just to dust themselves down and attack the game on Monday.'
Striker Seán Boyd will miss out as well as midfielder Coote.
But manager Duff will be back on the sideline
Drogheda United welcome back ex-Red Shane Farrell from suspension while Josh Thomas, Paul Doyle and Darragh Markey remain out.
ODDS
: Shelbourne 10-11, Drogheda United 3-1, Draw 11-5.
VERDICT
: Drogheda
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