DAMIEN DUFF is still trying to get his head around his side’s struggles against teams outside the capital.
League leaders Shelbourne were surprisingly beaten by Sligo Rovers on Friday night.
They have taken 18 points from a possible 33 from sides outside Dublin compared to 19 from 27 against local rivals Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and St Pat’s.
And Duff said: “We still don’t play at the same real intensity and edge of a proper Dublin derby. You can just feel it in the ground.
“Listen, I think we dominated large, large spells. Two years ago, last year it’s a different story against Sligo Rovers, they dominated us, they’re the bigger team, what have you, but we’ve dominated from start to finish, never felt threatened.
“Granted we conceded two goals, we created a lot but still that, do we play with that real edge that we do in the Dublin games? We still didn’t feel it.”
The crowd at Tolka Park was muted but Duff said: “It’s not down to the fans to get the players playing with a real intensity. You’re looking at them going, are they really playing as if their life depended on it?
“I don’t think so. And it goes hand-in-hand with dropping points maybe. You know Drogheda United, Galway United away, here but that’s me really digging deep, ‘ok at what else can I really aim at them?’
“I’m not going to criticise them too much, they’ve been excellent and got absolutely outstanding results this year against the top end of the table. It just seems to be when it’s maybe the lower teams that they struggle against.”
They are away to Drogheda United next Friday and he said: “It’s only up the road but not a Dublin game. There’s nothing I can do, it’s up to them and how well you motivate yourselves.”
Shels squandered chances before falling 1-0 behind and, again, after they trailed 2-1 but he said: “I’ll never criticise or be angry at guys for missing chances, it’s the hardest job in the game, it’s why they’re paid the most money
“It’s the goals that we give away, we’ll never win anything, a game, get into Europe, a League, a game of five-a-side, you can’t give away goals like that.
“For the first goal, losing the first header off of a long goal kick, we know Ed McGinty has length in them, but still you should feel secure that lads are covering in behind.
“And then the second goal is just awful, and surprising because we’ve been outstanding but here, the lads will learn, they’re sponges, and they’ll go again.”
Duff shrugged off Bohs calling off Monday’s game due to Martin Miller and Michael Lilander – neither of whom are regulars – being picked by Estonia for the Baltic Cup.
He said: “Ah here, it’s a strange one. But we’ll adapt and take the positives out of it. We’ve lads in there that manage injuries and aches and pains so it’s put back to later on in the season where there’s plenty of time to play the games anyway, I think.
“So here, it’s fine. I wanted to play it, I was desperate to play it but we’ll take the positive out of it.”