Derry City manager Kenny Shiels has described the manner in which Shamrock Rovers secured a point at the Brandywell last night as agricultural and said there was “no rhyme or reason” in how they played.
The Hoops secured a valuable point in the battle for Europe as they stayed in third place by coming from two goals down to earn a draw.
Ronan Curtis' brace put Derry 2-0 up before Gary McCabe and Stephen McPhail brought Rovers level.
However, Shiels was far from happy with their approach to the game and the manner in which they got back on terms, simply saying that it sickened him.
He told Drive 105 Radio: “We’re disappointed because we had the game in the can and we let it go.
“How many football games have you seen that where a team agriculturally get a point? It sickens me.
“I go on too much about football but when I come here I want the supporters to see a brand that they are proud of and I feel as if we’re getting there with that, but big clubs like Rovers and that, you would expect them to maybe be a bit more similar, a bit more in terms of trying to play the right way. It doesn’t always work out like that.”
Asked whether he felt his side were on course for three points, he admitted that with a two-goal advantage they were well on the way.
“Yes I did. I thought we were in cruise control and then we get caught in possession and it’s 2-1. Then they get something from that but in the second half they didn’t have any strategy, they had no rhyme or reason in how they were trying to play. They were just playing it long and they got lucky. And how often does that happen?
“Goals change the way teams play. You look at the refereeing performance, you look at everything and you say 'God’s Sake'.”
Shiels refused to expand further of the performance of official Robert Harvey, saying he is “not allowed comment on referees”.
Derry take on Dundalk in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup semi-finals on Sunday, a match that will be live on RTE2 and RTÉ Player.
