DAMIEN DUFF has told his players that they should not need a Dublin derby to get themselves going.
Duff was scathing of his Shelbourne players following their 1-0 defeat to Galway United on Friday but far happier with their performance in the 0-0 draw against Shamrock Rovers on Monday.
He is hoping that can provide the foundation for a better result against St Pat’s on Friday but is frustrated at how his team lift themselves for some games and not others.
Duff said: “Whether it’s me getting a reaction out of them or a Dublin derby, who knows. I told them up there, ‘it can’t always be a Dublin derby’.
“People hang onto them and there’s a real edge to them, but we can’t wait for a Dublin derby to get up for a game and play with a real edge and a passion.
“Sean Boyd comes on for 20 minutes on Monday, that was Sean Boyd. Because it wasn’t a Dublin derby down at Eamon Deacy Park the other day, it was a different Sean Boyd you see.
“Whether it was me or it was a Dublin derby…I like to think it was a bit of both.”
The former Ireland international did not share most people’s view that it had been a poor-quality contest on Tolka Park’s sandy pitch.
ROVERS CLASH
He said: “I thought it was a fascinating game, up against the best team in the country, the best team the league has seen in a long, long time.
“It was like a game of chess at times, you are changing formations. I am not trying to disrespect what youse are seeing but from a coaching perspective I thought it was fascinating.
“They hit the bar in the first minute but outside of that we had the better chances to win the game. All round a brilliant performance.
“Nail-biting, you could feel the tension in the ground. Maybe fans didn’t have a lot to sing about but I thought it was fascinating.
“We go down to 10 men and it’s easy to sit on the edge of your own box and try to suck it up, but we decide to go with two strikers. Okay let’s have you, go toe to toe.
“We could have nicked something, sets, long balls, you have to play that way. Outside that the defensive work they did with 10 men, incredible.”
Just three points cover the top four with Shels still at the summit despite five games without a win and Duff said: “After a wonderful start I never got carried away
“The last three weeks have certainly been sobering, not for me, but certainly for the players. I am glad they are playing with an edge, and they can’t get carried away again.”