Stephen O'Donnell: "I don’t see a team down on their knees"

Avoiding the tag of going the full first round of games winless hinges on Dundalk prevailing in Derry City on Friday night.

Marooned at the foot of the table, with just three draws from their opening eight matches, Monday’s stalemate against neighbours Drogheda United was indicative of their struggles.

Stephen O’Donnell quit St Patrick’s Athletic within days of their FAI Cup triumph in 2021 to manage the club he’s most associated with but an upturn is essential to stem the pressure being heaped on his shoulders.

“I’m frustrated,” he sighed.

“I see this as a massive challenge as well. Can we turn it around? Over time, it will become clearer, but I see it as a huge challenge.

“Of course, a win would lift everyone. But I don’t see a team, a squad or a dressing-room that’s down on their knees from a morale point of view.

“You’re not going to get handed a win. You’ve got to earn your right to win games, so we’ll get ready and go up the road on Friday.” 

A late red card for Archie Davis rules the defender out of the game against a Derry side that also toiled over the Bank Holiday double-header, not scoring and collecting just a point.

Shamrock Rovers experienced the opposite outcome, wins over Bohemians and Waterford added to the previous victory away to Galway. That’s three in a row after a four-game winless start to the quest for a record-breaking fifth title on the spin.

St Patrick’s Athletic welcome the Hoops tonight on the back of coasting past Sligo 3-0.

“The league has shown already this year that if you’re not at your best, you won’t win games, regardless of who you play, home or away,” observed Rovers boss Stephen Bradley, who will be without injured duo Lee Grace and Rory Gaffney.

“We know a Dublin derby against