Leading up to the game against Kosice we had a really good trainings week and the players where looking good. This showed in what I personally think was our best 45 minutes of the whole season. Quick and flowing football which again created many chances but again we did not score them. Krizko, Jasurek and Kamensky being the players who could and should have scored.
We lost Milan Micenec early in the game through a sprained ankle and that meant changing our tactics a little. For a short period defensively we where not organised but then picked it up and played solidly to go into half time with a 0-0 scoreline.
I warned the players for the same scenario as we had against Ruzemberok but we where playing better against Kosice than we did against Ruzemberok so I had a good feeling we would cope easily.
Sadly after just 2 minutes into the 2nd half an indecision by Hodal from a corner from Kosice gave them the 1-0 lead. Within no time we where looking at a 2-0 scoreline after a slip from Lesak.
We brought Hlohovsky on for Kamensky to try and get some scoring chances and they came again but the ball would not go in the goal. 3-0 came from an indecision between Cogley and Horvath when a cross from the flank could be easily headed in by the Kosice striker. 4-0 was a dubious penalty but then the game was well over for us and what we promised to repair and showed our best side of our football became our nightmare when we concede the goals we do in such a simple and unprofessional manner.
Again lots of praise from the press and the Kosice Trainer but the hard facts are no points and that is what this team of mine deserve.
Problem seems to be if the strikers do not score it gives the defence more pressure to keep a clean sheet then when we concede a goal against us we seem to lose our belief and the fear factor comes into the team again and that is a difficult element which has come into the players heads the last games (except against Dubnica at home)
Tuesday we have our home Cup game against Sala which I am really pleased about because it enables us to play quickly and get a good result in order to prepare us for the coming home game against Zlate Moravce. Whatever the situation is this team deserve ours and your support to build for the future within the chosen filosophy. Again they worked extremely hard and played at times very attractive football. I am a Coach who has to still concentrate on the positive things and work hard on the training field on our negative things. They are a great set of lads who need that element of luck to change the results for the coming weeks.
Look at the National team against Wales. That shows you that at even at the highest level things do not always go the way you want them to.
I am really looking forward to the supporters evening and answering their questions honestly and constructively. Of course it makes such an evening easier when you have good results behind you but the facts are hard and I will justify that on Thursday.
Hope to see you Tuesday with the Cup game against Sala and our League game at home to Zlate Moravce on Saturday.
Rob McDonald.