Galway United manager John Caulfield is remaining firmly focused ahead of tomorrow’s critical SSE Airtricity League first division encounter against Bray Wanderers at Eamonn Deacy Park (7.45pm ).
Friday’s controversial and cruel loss away to Waterford FC at the RSC was a setback, but Caulfield is hopeful United can deliver on home turf.
“On this occasion certainy luck wasn't with us,” Caulfield says about the Waterford encounter when the Blues were awarded two penalties. “We were disappointed with that because in some of the big games this season decisions seem to have gone against us.
“That is frustrating, but it is gone now and we just have to move on to Friday. We are at home to Bray, we need a big crowd, we need a big performance, and we are working all week to do that.”
There was no shortage of drama or incidents in Waterford. “The game was a rollercoaster of a game from a spectators point of view,” Caulfield says. “Obviously we started well, Stephen Walsh scored.
“We were doing very well in the game. Waterford, who we know are a very good team, came back into it and then they eqaulised. To be fair from then up until half-time they probably were in control of the game, but at half-time we changed things around. At the start of the second half we were really good - their 'keeper made a fantastic save from Francely Lomboto, but the game was on a knife edge.
“You go into the two controversial decisions in the game. The first one looked a glaring offside decision that ended up with Conor McCormack challenging in the box as he chased the player back. A penalty was given, and worse he was sent off. Under the circumstances that is the ruling, but we felt that it should have been a free out. It is one all, they missed the penalty, it is 10 v 11, but we are very dangerous on the counter attack.
“There wasn't much in the game, it is probably end to end really. We get to 81 minutes, incredibly there is a second penalty decision given when everyone could see it was a clear free out. Obviously they score so that was difficult to take. At the death Charlie Lyons had a chance from 10 or 12 yards out, but the 'keeper made another fantastic save.”
On Monday at Turners Cross, Cork City and Waterford divided the spoils ensuring United trail the Leesiders' by four points with seven matches remaining.
“We are second, they have to come to Terryland, but the most important thing for us is we have to make sure we are in a position that we can challenge when they do come,” Caulfield says. “If we don't take full points from now on then it is obviously going to be very difficult. At the same time incredible things happen during the run-in.
“The pressure comes on, you see results that people may not think will happen. I think you can already see that in the last seven days. From that point of view we need to make sure we are in the race.
"Bray in some ways have nothing to lose. That allows them probably to come to play under no pressure. So for us it is important that we apply our own game, to make sure we are at it from the start.”
