ALAN REYNOLDS has admitted he has his work cut out as Bohemians boss.
And Friday’s derby defeat to Shamrock Rovers handed him some valuable lessons on what needs attention.
Reynolds only started working as Bohs boss on Wednesday and was happy with how his side did in Tallaght up until the break.
But they were carved open twice within eight minutes of the restart and there was no way back.
Reynolds said: “I suppose the game plan early on in the first half worked defensively. We needed to keep the ball a little bit better, a lot better I should say.
“But, look, it was new stuff I’d thrown at players and it was, I suppose if you want to call it a free shot, that we just tried a few things.
“It worked in the first half, we gave away the cheap goals early on in the second half and then you’re chasing it. You don’t need to give Rovers a leg up.
“You need to start the second half better, we didn’t, there are some young players, there’s a couple of mistakes but I’m only in two days so we’ll crack on and make it better.
“It really only one day because Thursday you can’t do too much. I’m only in the door.
“It’s the first game and the first half was good, the first 15 minutes of the second wasn’t.
“I’m not going to judge it off that game. It’s going to take time for me to put in what I want to. It’s a tough start and maybe me looking for different ideas. But I’m only getting to know some of the players too. And I’ll learn a lot.
“In the short term we’ve a game Monday and a game Friday and I can assess things.
“They’re hurting in there, they’re disappointed but, again, it’s up to us, we move on, Monday, we lick our wounds and get better.
“There’s plenty of work to be done for sure. We’ll roll up our sleeves and get on with it.”
Jevon Mills – who had impressed on his debut against Derry City– could have done better for the first two goals with his central defensive partner Aboubacar Keita outmuscled by Aaron Greene for the third before being substituted soon afterwards.
And Reynolds said: “Physically, at times, we were outdone. Not just the third goal, there were a couple of set-pieces as well where we rode our luck. That’s definitely something we need to look at.”
James Talbot was on the Bohs bench again but Reynolds kept faith with Kacper Chorazka as he has been impressing between the posts.
Reynolds said: “Kacper played the last one against Derry and deserved to keep his spot. I suppose I’ll have to look at everyone as we go along, give them a chance and see. But in the short term we need to win games.”
Tomorrow, he makes his second trip to Eamonn Deacy Park in a month having been there in his previous role as Waterford’s assistant boss when they lost 2-1 to Galway United.
And he said: “They’re very good and very effective. The way they’re playing is very smart. People will talk about John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan and one style but there’s a little bit more to it.”
Filip Piszczek is a doubt for that with the knee injury he suffered against Derry flaring up and ruling him out on Friday.