Andy Boyle’s second coming was completed tonight with his return to Oriel Park and he couldn’t have picked a better night to do it in than a Champions League Qualifier. The defender came on in place of Chris Shields who was injured in the first hal
Andy Boyle’s second coming was completed tonight with his return to Oriel Park and he couldn’t have picked a better night to do it in than a Champions League Qualifier.
The defender came on in place of Chris Shields who was injured in the first half but the Dubliner was delighted to be back ‘Home’.
“Obviously it's unfortunate what happened to Chris but I was delighted to come on at half time and the fans gave me a great welcome so I am happy to be back.”
Dundalk fans and players alike will rue the missed opportunities presented in this tie against Riga and Boyle stressed the importance of how they can utilise this result to spur them on. Was it disappointing for Boyle and the players?
“Probably more frustrating is a more a word I would use. We didn’t create as many chances as we would have hoped as the home team but I think a 0-0 for a home team isn’t the worst result in the world really. Not conceding the away goal here and we can nick it over there and makes it more difficult for them. I think overall we were only ok tonight.”
Boyle had ample opportunity to watch Riga both on and off the pitch, watching from the bench in the first half, the defender got a real sense of what the Latvian champions are all about.
“During the week you try and analyse on video but I think it's different when you go out there and look at it in certain places. They are a well-organised side and they looked decent on the counter-attack so it will probably be a different game out there next week. We will analyse this game tonight and go forward and pick out stuff we can definitely improve on.”
The non-concession of the away goal is a key difference between previous Champions League ties, it now means the Lilywhites have to go for it in Riga next week to progress to the second round.
“It’s key in European nights that we don’t concede at home as it gives you a bit of a mountain to climb. Obviously, we will like to score ourselves and give ourselves a cushion to hold onto over there but we have done it before. if we want to go through we are going to have to do what we try to do every game and that is to score and try and win the game.”
