With each passing week Galway United's plight is becoming more difficult as the defeats continue to mount and Sunday's trip to the Brandywell brings another daunting challenge.
Despite delivering a plucky performance last Saturday, Galway were still ultimately beaten by Drogheda United, who enjoyed their second come-from-behind victory of the campaign at Terryland Park. Drogheda have earned 10 of their 22-point total against Galway, indicating the main reason why the Tribesmen currently prop up the premier division table.
Manager John Brennan certainly had reasons to be satisfied with the manner in which Galway bravely battled against Drogheda, and emphasised the need for unity in the coming weeks. Brennan was particularly enthused by the way the Galway players celebrated Alan Murphy's delightful opening goal.
"I thought we played reasonably well in the first half and I was delighted that we weren't one nil down. We contained them, they had one or two chances and we had a couple of half chances as well. I told the lads that we would get more chances in the second half. We played really well. It was a cracker of a goal from Alan Murphy. Mikey Gilmore held the ball well for him with a nice touch back and it was a super chip from Alan then. You saw the way all the players came over to me, that was amazing. I was delighted that the lads came over because it shows they respect me."
The Galway squad have demonstrated enthusiasm since Brennan, Billy Clery, and Tommy Lally took charge, but the grim fact is that no points have been registered since the draw with Dundalk last month. Getting out of a miserable losing habit is what Galway intend to do, but it will take a significant change in fortune if another loss is to be avoided up north.
The Drogheda match was the latest addition in Galway's catalogue of hard-luck stories and Brennan admitted that lapses in concentration were costly.
"It is an awful word, but it was horrendous for us not to get at least a point from that game. The players were absolutely devastated in the dressing room. They were drained, they tried their hearts out, they were outstanding, but there were little lapses in concentration."
Unsurprisingly everything is geared towards the play-off and a former Galway player, Mick Cooke, now Drogheda boss, had comforting words for the westerners. Cooke, who endured play-off heartache as Monaghan manager in 2010, is certain that Galway's top-flight experience will be influential. "Every team has a chance in the play-off. I know only too well from my time in charge of Monaghan when we played Bray last year. From the break last season Bray came from nowhere to finish second from bottom to get into the play-off series. We ran them close only to lose in a penalty shoot out. The advantage Galway have as a premier division team is that they are playing higher standard teams every week. The tempo is better irrespective of where they are in the league and any premier team has to fancy their chances."
