Ger Nash: 'It’s way beyond frustrating and it's unacceptable in terms of the message we give the players'

FRUSTRATING: Cork City’s search for their first win under Ger Nash continued as his side remained rooted to the foot of the table following Friday's 3-1 defeat at Tolka Park and it's safe to say the 38-year-old was almost at a loss trying to understand just why his side started so poorly.  Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Cork City’s search for their first win under Ger Nash continued as his side remained rooted to the foot of the table following Friday's 3-1 defeat at Tolka Park and it's safe to say the 38-year-old was almost at a loss trying to understand just why his side started so poorly.

“I am obviously hugely disappointed, it's a game that passed us by that we had a chance to pick up points in” bemoaned the hurting Nash. “We're in a position where we can't do that, it's as simple as that. It's a hugely disappointing night. The key moment in the game is how we started and how we gifted them the first opportunity, which they took. It's tough, you come to a place, they have a new manager, they have Europe next week, they are right on top of it, and we end up with a really dreadful start.” 

“It's the softness of the first goal, it's not us. We knew what we were going to face, going to be pressed in those moments and it's really poor how we gave away the ball in the build-up to their first goal. It’s way beyond frustrating and it's unacceptable in terms of the message we give the players and then what goes and happens on the pitch, it's too important. 

"This isn't kids football, this isn't the First Division, this is the Premier Division, it's unacceptable how we started the game, it's a huge shame as a lot of the players have left a lot out there, playing with 10-men for a long time so it's hard to analyse this game, in some respects as some players it's not their fault that they are playing with 10 men, but the softness of the first goal is huge and then the red card compounds that.” 

Harry Wood and Mipo Odubeko gave the hosts a dream start to Joey O’Briens first game as permanent manager of the reigning Champions as they put their side two up within the first six minutes to give City a mountain to climb, but to their credit the visitors stemmed the tide and grew into the game, grabbing an excellent goal through Kitt Nelson and with an intriguing second half in prospect another “key moment” arose which left Nash seething as he saw his skipper receive a costly red card five minutes into the restart, adding: “In fairness to the lads in the rest of the half they responded and got ourselves back in the game, showed huge qualities in many respects.

“At half time I thought we were in the game, that we have a real opportunity to go and take some points, we are looking good in that respect but the key moment in the second half is unacceptable, simply unacceptable, and had a huge bearing on what we can do in the second half in terms of trying to get ourselves some goals and points on the board.” 

It initially seemed that Charlie Lyons was due to receive a yellow for a heavy challenge on opposing skipper Mark Coyle but referee Rob Harvey quickly reached for a red compounding a miserable day for the 25-year-old. And his less than impressed gaffer moved quickly to clarify the situation that cost his side dearly. “Whatever decision the referee made, we're in a position where we have to be disciplined in how we speak to referees, that's part of football, I know the reasons why the referee sent him off, the tackle was deemed a yellow card offence, the upgrading of the situation was down to something one of my players said to him, and I won't accept it.” 

That’s now 12 without a win for the Leesiders who missed the chance to potentially close the gap on Sligo Rovers but, despite the defeat, showed good character to fight their way back into the game and some positives could be taken from the fact three of their four new signings were named in the matchday squad with Fiacre Kelleher looking commanding during his second half substitute cameo. The only one missing was new stopper David Odumosu who narrowly missed out due to the registration not going through on time. 

“Look, we have new players coming into the club, they weren’t in a position to start but you can rest assured they’ll be in a position to start next week potentially.” And Nash will be hoping his new recruits hit the ground running as they gear themselves up for a mouthwatering tie, desperately hoping to end their winless run as they to travel to a wounded animal in Waterford who were humbled 7-2 away in Derry City, just a few days after hosting Scottish giants Celtic in a glamour midweek friendly.