JOHN CAULFIELD said Cork City simply did not perform well enough to beat an impressive Bohemians last night in Turners Cross, describing the 1-0 defeat as his side’s “own self-destruction.”
The defeat was City’s first of the 2017 Premier Division season, ending their unbeaten streak at a remarkable 22 games – 21 wins and a single draw over the course of the last five months.
“We were always going to be a target for a team to be the first to beat us”, said Caulfield afterwards.
“We prepared and knew Bohemians were a good side – they beat Rovers away on Friday – and we knew their away form was particularly very good.
“To be fair tonight I think it was our own self-destruction. We gave them a couple of chances and it was disappointing for the lads, but we didn’t do enough at the end of the day to get back and win the match, or even equalise.”
Bohemians ran away victors thanks to a Georgie Poynton penalty just past the hour mark, meaning the Gypsies now trail rivals Shamrock Rovers by just three points in fourth place.
Cork have been runaway league leaders this season but have struggled in their last two games following the depature of Sean Maguire and Kevin O’Connor to Preston North End.
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They trailed at the break against bottom-placed Galway United last Friday before a Garry Buckley equaliser was added to by a Lee Grace own goal to earn a narrow 2-1 win.
Cork's Conor McCarthy was dejected after their 1-0 defeat to Bohemians on Monday night. Bryan Keane / INPHO
Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO
Bohemians, meanwhile, turned a three game losing streak into victories over rivals Shamrock Rovers and the champions-elect in the space of three days.
Seven of Keith Long’s side’s ten wins this season have come on the road and Caulfield highlighted how impressed he had been at the Dublin side this season.
“Bohs are always good. I have nightmares when I think of playing against them as a player myself.
“They are always good, Keith Long and Trevor Croly are brilliant coaches and great guys. They’ve a fantastic group of players and have held on to top players that would have been approached by other clubs in Dublin.
“They probably want more consistency against the lower teams, because they’ve always played well against all of the big teams.
“We knew tonight that it was going to be a tough game. We just didn’t do enough, if we had taken our chances in the first half we might have went ahead and it would have been a different game – but we didn’t.
“We conceded the penalty and were chasing the game and in the last half an hour didn’t do enough.”
The City boss repeated the fact that Friday’s game away to Drogheda was his side’s most important of the season so far.
“As I said to the lads afterwards our most important game of the reason is on Friday and we just need to make sure we get back to basics.
“All of these players have been fantastic and they’ll learn from that defeat. The most important thing for us is not to let the heads go down and to continue focusing on what we have done all year.
“Friday night is our biggest game of the season and that’s how we have to approach it.”
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'I think it was our own self-destruction' - Caulfield disappointed with first league defeat
JOHN CAULFIELD said Cork City simply did not perform well enough to beat an impressive Bohemians last night in Turners Cross, describing the 1-0 defeat as his side’s “own self-destruction.”
The defeat was City’s first of the 2017 Premier Division season, ending their unbeaten streak at a remarkable 22 games – 21 wins and a single draw over the course of the last five months.
“We were always going to be a target for a team to be the first to beat us”, said Caulfield afterwards.
“We prepared and knew Bohemians were a good side – they beat Rovers away on Friday – and we knew their away form was particularly very good.
“To be fair tonight I think it was our own self-destruction. We gave them a couple of chances and it was disappointing for the lads, but we didn’t do enough at the end of the day to get back and win the match, or even equalise.”
Bohemians ran away victors thanks to a Georgie Poynton penalty just past the hour mark, meaning the Gypsies now trail rivals Shamrock Rovers by just three points in fourth place.
Cork have been runaway league leaders this season but have struggled in their last two games following the depature of Sean Maguire and Kevin O’Connor to Preston North End.
They trailed at the break against bottom-placed Galway United last Friday before a Garry Buckley equaliser was added to by a Lee Grace own goal to earn a narrow 2-1 win.
Bohemians, meanwhile, turned a three game losing streak into victories over rivals Shamrock Rovers and the champions-elect in the space of three days.
Seven of Keith Long’s side’s ten wins this season have come on the road and Caulfield highlighted how impressed he had been at the Dublin side this season.
“Bohs are always good. I have nightmares when I think of playing against them as a player myself.
“They are always good, Keith Long and Trevor Croly are brilliant coaches and great guys. They’ve a fantastic group of players and have held on to top players that would have been approached by other clubs in Dublin.
“They probably want more consistency against the lower teams, because they’ve always played well against all of the big teams.
“We knew tonight that it was going to be a tough game. We just didn’t do enough, if we had taken our chances in the first half we might have went ahead and it would have been a different game – but we didn’t.
“We conceded the penalty and were chasing the game and in the last half an hour didn’t do enough.”
The City boss repeated the fact that Friday’s game away to Drogheda was his side’s most important of the season so far.
“As I said to the lads afterwards our most important game of the reason is on Friday and we just need to make sure we get back to basics.
“All of these players have been fantastic and they’ll learn from that defeat. The most important thing for us is not to let the heads go down and to continue focusing on what we have done all year.
“Friday night is our biggest game of the season and that’s how we have to approach it.”
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