LIMERICK FC entertain second placed St Patrick’s Athletic this coming Saturday 7 at 7.45pm in Thomond Park.
Stuart Taylor’s side, on a run of six losses in seven games know that at least a point against their Dublin rivals is needed to stop a rot setting in.
Limerick find themselves just nine points off of the relegation spot with eight games to go. Team manager Taylor is remaining positive despite the lack of form. The Scottish native even found some good points in the sides 2-0 defeat last weekend to Sligo Rovers.
“There were a lot of positives in the game,” the 38-year-old said.
“I thought that [new signing] Samuel Oji was solid enough at centre-back and he certainly complemented Stephen Folan. I thought Stephen came on leaps and bounds as the game went on and we looked very solid across the back four, with Patrick (Nzuzi) and Rob (Williams) being the two full-backs.
“We were a lot more balanced. We had players playing in their normal positions and we had players playing on the correct side of the pitch to have a good balance about the back four, so that was good.
“And it gave confidence throughout the game. The goals we lost had nothing to do with the back four we had and I thought that we created chances. I thought in the latter part of the first half, we were definitely the stronger side and the better side. We were creating chances and picking up second balls and having the play, so there were a lot of positives.
“Unfortunately, for the second goal, there was a little mistake and it kind of put us on a little bit of a downer. But we still battled away, we still kept going – we just need a little bit more belief in the final third, and that comes by us playing games and creating chances.”
With the St Patrick’s clash coming so fast after the run of defeats, Taylor is hoping the character of his side will shine through.
“They’re all difficult games,” Stuart said, “but if we show the character that we showed in spells in the game then we’ll be fine in that game.
“It’s one where I’m looking forward to going and playing a little bit more adventurous. With it being a home game as well, we’re looking to go and put a spectacle on as always. We’re hoping that we’ll be creating chances next week.”
Following their game against the Saints, Limerick will have a 17-day break between then and their next outing, at home to Shamrock Rovers on 24 September.
But Taylor is not worried by that long break, stating: “Having a 17-day break gives you time to go and work on things.
“It lets us get Samuel a little bit fitter and a little more knowledgeable towards other players, it lets them know him a little bit more and lets him know them.
“We’ll use that time to go and work on things. It’s just on the back end of that break, we’ve got games that come thick and fast.
“What it does do is it gives us three weeks to go and get everyone fit – to get Brian O’Callaghan fit, Pat Purcell fitter and Rory Gaffney with his foot – and it gives us a chance to go and build people up and let them rest wee knocks that they’ve got and get over their injuries.”
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