O'Driscoll credits 'professional' performance
Posted on: Wed 17 Nov 2004
Sean O'Driscoll was particularly pleased with the away win at Southend having lost the previous two away games and described the performance as the most professional of the season so far. He spoke about how everyone stuck to the game plan despite some difficult moments and also gave his views on the winning and taking of the match-winning penalty.
O'Driscoll said, "We've lost the last two away and we were disappointed at Wrexham where we scored two goals and came away with nothing so they were determined to try and get something out of the game. We had a game plan; we worked to it and stuck to it, which was pleasing as they started the second half really well."
"We knew we were going to be in for a touch game as we had Southend watched last week and by all accounts, Hartlepool were lucky to have earned a reply. We were probably as professional as we've been all season. Marcus coming back helped the back four in his role of dropping in front of them and Carl Fletcher with Karl Broadhurst were yet again a good partnership at the back."
Southend started the second half the brighter side and looked to be gaining a degree of control over the game before O'Driscoll's boys bounced back. Speaking about his delight of the clean sheet, Sean added, "We wobbled a bit, but they stuck to their guns and we always feel that we'll score goals and that there are match-winners throughout the whole team. Our biggest problem is keeping clean sheets, but we managed that and got a goal at a good time with not long left to defend it."
The home side threw men forward in those closing stages, but O'Driscoll was thankful that his options at the back are increasing with Tindall back from a knee injury. He said, "To have somebody like Jason to bring on is great as they put Cort up front in the closing stages. If he hadn't been on the bench we'd have had to bring Big Steve Fletcher back and have nobody up front, which isn't ideal and Tindall gave us that option to counter-act their tactics."
The seventieth minute penalty proved to be the match-winning moment of the game and O'Driscoll spoke about why O'Connor became the latest player to try his luck from twelve yards. O'Driscoll said, "The penalty was right in the corner of the area and our boys warming up came back and said the guy handled it, but you're really going to have to wait until the video."
"The linesman gave it and there were one or two claims with the tackle before. Garreth O'Connor was on fire Friday morning at training and he was probably the most confident one to take the penalty. We've had some problems with penalties in the past, but he's taken responsibility and that's all you can ask of him."
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O'Driscoll said, "We've lost the last two away and we were disappointed at Wrexham where we scored two goals and came away with nothing so they were determined to try and get something out of the game. We had a game plan; we worked to it and stuck to it, which was pleasing as they started the second half really well.""We knew we were going to be in for a touch game as we had Southend watched last week and by all accounts, Hartlepool were lucky to have earned a reply. We were probably as professional as we've been all season. Marcus coming back helped the back four in his role of dropping in front of them and Carl Fletcher with Karl Broadhurst were yet again a good partnership at the back."
Southend started the second half the brighter side and looked to be gaining a degree of control over the game before O'Driscoll's boys bounced back. Speaking about his delight of the clean sheet, Sean added, "We wobbled a bit, but they stuck to their guns and we always feel that we'll score goals and that there are match-winners throughout the whole team. Our biggest problem is keeping clean sheets, but we managed that and got a goal at a good time with not long left to defend it."
The home side threw men forward in those closing stages, but O'Driscoll was thankful that his options at the back are increasing with Tindall back from a knee injury. He said, "To have somebody like Jason to bring on is great as they put Cort up front in the closing stages. If he hadn't been on the bench we'd have had to bring Big Steve Fletcher back and have nobody up front, which isn't ideal and Tindall gave us that option to counter-act their tactics."
The seventieth minute penalty proved to be the match-winning moment of the game and O'Driscoll spoke about why O'Connor became the latest player to try his luck from twelve yards. O'Driscoll said, "The penalty was right in the corner of the area and our boys warming up came back and said the guy handled it, but you're really going to have to wait until the video."
"The linesman gave it and there were one or two claims with the tackle before. Garreth O'Connor was on fire Friday morning at training and he was probably the most confident one to take the penalty. We've had some problems with penalties in the past, but he's taken responsibility and that's all you can ask of him."
**********************
Cherriesbet.co.uk - Your one stop call for all betting. Every punt helps AFCB.
Mobile Zone - Be the first to know the news with SMS updates from the club.
Weekly newsletter - The best of weekly content, direct to your mailbox.
Site Map - What we offer, where to find it and when it's updated.
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