Byrne wants support

Shelbourne striker Jason Byrne is hoping manager Pat Fenlon gives him some help in attack for the second leg of the Dubliners’ UEFA Cup first round tie against Lille.

Byrne was left up the park himself for long periods at Lansdowne Road as the ultra-cautious Irish side struggled to contain the visitors, who cruised into a seemingly unassailable two-goal lead through strikes by Mathieu Bodmer and Christophe Landrin.

It was not until Glen Fitzpatrick was brought on for Thomas Morgan in 65 minutes to partner Byrne that Shels started to threaten and indeed it was the lively substitute who scored a late double to give the Irish champions some hope for the return leg.

And Byrne is hoping he will have a partner for the trip to France in a fortnight’s time.

He said: “It was very frustrating playing up alone especially in the first half. There was a big gap between me and the midfield.

“But then Glen came on and when we pressed them much further up the pitch we got more joy.

“We always thought we could get back. There is a lot of spirit in the club and we know if we could get one we could come back and get another one.

“We finished very strongly and had them on the ropes but we’ll take a draw especially after being two goals down.

“We have a couple of key players back for the second leg so I don’t know which way we’re going to go so but it would be nice for me to have someone there beside me.”

Shelbourne midfielder Jim Crawford claimed a half-time pep talk by coach Eamonn Collins helped turn things around for the home side but the former Newcastle player expects the Dubliners to stick with their cautious approach in the second leg in Lille.

He said: “In the first half we were below par and trying to play football in the wrong positions.

“We tried to play our way out of defence too many times and were too predictable.

“It was a horrible feeling at half-time in the dressing room.

“There were a few words said and Eamonn got us together and encouraged us.

“In the second half we upped the tempo and we started to create chances.

“They looked tired and at the end they were out in their feet and it makes for an interesting spectacle in two weeks’ time.

“ But I still think we’ll be cautious – there’s no point in going there all guns blazing.

“We know we’ll have to win it but we’ll be cautious like we were in the first game against Hajduk Split in the Champions League qualifier.”