Connor frustrated but isn't prepared to throw in towel

Dara Bradley

WHEN you’re looking to avoid setting a humiliating record of straight defeats, an away visit to the Airtricity League leaders isn’t the ideal place to attempt to stop the rot.

But that’s the task facing Seán Connor’s Galway United this weekend as the bottom side seek to halt a record-breaking 13th defeat on the trot when they face the pace-setters Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium tonight (8pm).

United’s home and away record this season is fairly woeful while the Dublin side has an impressive home record so far this year, winning six of their eight matches at Tallaght, drawing once and losing once to Bray Wanderers back in April.

Much has been made of the defensive frailties of the United outfit this season and, while keeping a clean sheet must be the basic aspiration of a team shorn of confidence, they’re not exactly banging in the goals either: in the last 10 straight defeats in the league, United leaked 31 goals but have found the net on just five occasions.

Connor is a manager under pressure and when speaking to Tribune Sport this week, the Belfast native could scarcely hide his frustration and anger.

“Yeah, I am frustrated because people like you keep coming back to me every week pointing to the results. You keep taking cheap pot-shots and swipes at me and the team to make cheap headlines. Look at the facts,” fumed Connor, who continued at length to outline how he is unhappy with the training facilities at Dangan.

There are also other well documented financial problems at the club, including rumours about wages, which has led to a general air of gloom and low-confidence around Terryland Park. Connor insists that the off-field issues are directly affecting player morale and the manner in which he can prepare this squad of players for competing at the highest level.

But they are problems that won’t be solved this weekend so, in the circumstances, how does Connor think his charges will fare against Rovers?

“Yeah, I think we’re going to win six nil. How do you think we’ll do,” he asked, with more than a hint of irony and anger.

“We’ll go down there and try to do our best, try to be competitive, try to keep a clean sheet and try to win the game. We’ve a group of young players who turn up at training everyday who work hard and who are trying to do their best but it’s just not a level playing field with all that’s going on (off the field),” he said.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.