Caulfield says lack of width in cup semi-final was not part of plan
United’s lack of wingers was ruthlessly punished by Derry City
Galway United manager John Caulfield agreed that his side was wide open on the wings in the first-half of last Saturday's FAI Cup semi-final defeat to Derry City, but said that was not part of the game-plan.
Darragh Burns and, in particular, Michael Duffy wreaked havoc out wide for the Candystripes in the opening 45 minutes, with Duffy scoring twice to all but end the tie by half-time. United made a couple of changes at the break, introducing Francely Lomboto and Ed McCarthy which gave the side a more balanced look, but by then the damage had been done as the Tribesmen's poor home form this season continued.
"Yeah, we didn't plan that, but that's what happened, the [Derry] players, they knocked the ball around and we were a half yard off them, and we didn't plan that," Caulfield said of the Ulster's side's first=half dominance.
"You can talk about the mental side, you can work on it, which we've done for the last two weeks and making sure guys ere prepared, but when you cross the line, you have to make sure you're fully focussed.
"It is not that lads are not focussed, but sometimes their decision-making is slightly off, if you're off in a tight game, you get killed and the real quality of Derry and the players they have, we have to remember they were title favourites at the start of the year.
"They had hassle, but the last five, six, seven, eight weeks, they've turned it around and they are a quality team and to be fair to them, they fully deserved their victory.
"We're standing off them, which we didn't plan to be, but look, six years ago last month, we were bottom of the First Division. We've had a lot of personnel changes and the lads, they're in the Premier Division and they're battling hard and doing well, but it's difficult," he said.
United have won just once in 90 minutes at Eamonn Deacy Park since April, and just three times in 14 league and cup games, form which now sees Caulfield's side in a battle to avoid an 11th place finish and the relegation/promotion play-off.
"A lot of our players left last season to get better wages elsewhere, and we need to rectify that, but at the same time, we have a new group of brilliant lads. We needed our best game, and we didn't bring it. We just have to get on with it and try and bounce back," he said.
"I think it's obvious that a number of the lads didn't play well, and that's disappointing for them because you don't come out with the intention of not playing well, but we just didn't, and we didn't put enough of pressure on Derry.
"We didn't win the second balls, but at the same time, a Cup semi-final, you have to defend well, and, I suppose, ultimately, two soft goals, and that's frustrating.