“We’ve got to get back to basics”- Bermingham
IT’S ALL about getting back to basics according to St Patrick’s Athletic skipper Ian Bermingham.
The hugely-experience defender will be looking to lead his side back to winning ways when they travel to Dalymount Park to take on Bohemians tomorrow evening.
St Patrick's Athletic Captain Ian Bermingham
A dismal run of five straight defeats has seen the Inchicore side slip to sixth place in the table, yet they remain just three points outside the top four as they prepare to face a Bohs outfit against whom they have bagged four points in their two encounters so far this season.
“There’s not much between the two teams, but I feel we’ve just got to get back to basics, being organised and keeping clean sheets,” Bermingham told The Echo.
“We’re good when we have the ball, but when we lose it, we’ve got to get back around and defend well. We’ve got to keep our shape and not become disjointed as we have done in the last few games.
“I believe we have the better quality players, but we have to work hard and keep our shape.
“We’ve been a bit unlucky in games, but it’s important that we get back to winning ways because the longer the rot goes on, the more the confidence might go.
“We’re still confident now. We’ve still got a chance of getting a European place so we need to start winning and what better match to do it than in a Dublin derby against Bohs,” he added.
Bitterly disappointing results
Certainly the short break this month may have come at a good time for Liam Buckley’s side as they look to regroup following some bitterly disappointing results against the likes of Premier Division strugglers Sligo and Bray.
“The week away from it all will have done the players good” insisted Bermingham. “It gives us a chance to re-fresh and get the mind going. There’s that buzz about the team.
“Even if we were winning games I would be saying the break away would do us good,” he added.
And while the Saints have been licking their wounds, Bermingham has stressed that the appetitie to turn it around has never been stronger.
Indeed, in contrast to last season when they ended up struggling to simply survive in the top ranks, this year’s campaign still has a great prize up for grabs – a Europa League berth.
“Last year we had pressure to stay up,” recalled Bermingham.
“It was big pressure, but it gave us something to fight for.
“This year it’s going to be more exciting because we’re fighting for a European spot.
“There’s a great buzz around the club, after two years being out of the equation, we’re back fighting for a place in the top four.
“Getting back into Europe would be massive for the players and the club,” he added.
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