Duff Rallies Reds Ahead of Derby | OneFootball

The Champions Shelbourne take on last season’s nearest challengers Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium as the League of Ireland continues to get tight at the top. (7:45pm // Virgin Media)

The Reds are looking to build on an unbeaten streak that stretches back six games, since the narrow defeat to Drogheda United at the start of March.

Shels boss Damien Duff delivered an upbeat squad update on Thursday evening: “Kam Ledgidge and John Martin are fine, and it’s a big plus that Tyreke is back in the squad. It’s been a positive week on the injury front.

The Reds have lost just one of their last 15 League of Ireland games across the run in and the first round this season. Duff isn’t worried if it’s often over looked how few games the Reds lose:

“We’re a hard team to beat. I’d still say we’re the team in form, regardless of the last couple of results. Over the past 15 odd games, the end of last season, this season on the main, we’ve been consistent and that’s because we’re a good team. I think people know that. It’s simple.”

The Reds have been unlucky not to come out with all three points in both games over the Easter break. Having dominated possession against both Drogheda United and Galway United, Duff feels tomorrow’s game will be an intriguing encounter:

“We’ve been doing it nearly all season, controlling the ball. Rovers have been doing it to teams for four or five years, which is why it makes for an even more fascinating game. Dominating the ball doesn’t mean you win though, we know that, it’s all about coming out with the three points.”

In a small league where teams regularly face each other many of the players on both sides will be known to each other, Duff though doesn’t expect there’ll be much friendly fraternising at Tallaght tomorrow: “I think the players reflect where I’m at and where the staff are at. I don’t think we’re here to be friendly with anyone. I’m not here to make friends, we’re here to win. I’d be a bit old school in that sense. If I see players chatting to the opposition before a game, in the tunnel, on the pitch, I’m not really a fan of that. Wouldn’t have it. Players don’t do it. Call me old school that’s just who I am, generally the players mirror my energy.”

The message to the players this week? Very simple says Duff, no more gifts: “Without a doubt, the story of our season so far has been preventable goals, individual errors. Some have been a catalogue of individual mistakes. We started the game well with Rovers earlier in the season, 1-1 draw on the night,  showed aggression, it’s a Dublin derby, they got themselves back in but we gave away a very cheap goal. We switched to a certain system and it really suited us.

“Even without a big win yet, people might feel slightly disappointed with two draws last weekend. But we’re only two points off the top in a very tough league. The players have said it themselves it feels like it’s starting to click. When you look at us now, we look like a proper team, more settled, more dominant than the side that won the league, which I know might sound strange to say. Now it’s about getting over that final hurdle, turning performances into wins, and cutting out the silly goals.”

With a number of positive displays, growing home attendances, strong support on the road, and a strong team off the pitch, Duff feels the club overall on the pitch, in the stands, and in the boardroom, is in a very good place: “The fans have been amazing, home and away, at Tolka, on the road, games sold out within minutes. That’s what this club is built on: a real togetherness. Players, staff, fans, everyone upstairs in the football club, I spoke after the Galway game about how important the support off the pitch is to doing what we want to do on it. The fans, the owner, the directors, the staff, the volunteers, the support we get, you can feel it throughout the club. Every level. It’s there. Everyone is rowing in the same direction, unified and these are the games everyone at this club relishes, a Dublin derby, Friday night, there is nothing better.”