“We’re a side that are a little bit low on confidence at present”
A dejected Keith Long in the final minutes of the game against Galway United. Photos: Noel Browne.
There was much promise going into the second-half of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season from a Waterford FC perspective as they sat in third spot in the league table with everything to play for in a bid for European football to return to the county.
It got even better when the first two games after the return ended in wins against St. Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk, but since losing 1-0 away to Galway United on July 12, the Blues have managed just two league wins in nine games.
Losing Maleace Asamoah, who opted for a return to the UK instead of staying at the club, and a couple of more players, the club missed a big opportunity to bring in some senior experienced players in the transfer window in a hope of landing a big prize of European football.
After struggling over non-league Cockhill Celtic in the cup, the Blues have failed to build on that promising start with the FAI extra-time cup exit tot Athlone Town at home the start of five defeats in six games and a drop from third to seventh. A point is still needed to be guaranteed Premier Division football for 2025 with four games remaining.
Commenting on the season to date, Long said: “We got a little bit of luck in some of the games early on the season. You know, we played well, and we were playing with confidence. The second half of the season, since the break, we've lost one or two players, obviously, who were key to how we tried to play.
“We brought in other players. Some of the performances of late have been okay and some of them have been decent. I think some of the results in the games you could argue we should get maybe a little bit more out of.
“We’re a little bit low in terms of confidence from the group at the minute, but at the same time, you know, training has been good. The boys have been working hard, and the dressing room has been being quite good.
“But we're young, and we lack a little bit of leadership I think at times in the dressing room. We can't rely upon one or two of our senior players. We need everybody mucking in. So, yeah, our form has dipped off a little bit, and my job now is to try and attack the next four games between now and the end of the season and finish on the high."
Long added: “I’ve been disappointed with some of the results even though some of the performances have been quite good. But you know, ultimately we haven't won enough games in the second- half of the season that we would have liked.
“We came back after the break and started really well. We got two good results with a home win against St. Pat’s and then away to Dundalk, but listen, we haven’t been able to hit the same top level since then. That’s the disappointing thing.
“It's difficult. It's hard to come out here to try find the right words after witnessing that so I may not be right on the money in terms of it. When you look back in the cold light of day, and the detail, but ultimately, you can’t cough up the goals that we are if you are to have any chance of winning a football match. We’ll go again Drogheda in two weeks’ time.”
