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Tom Beary; ©INPHO/Tom Beary/INPHO
Mind Games

'We play football in every part of the pitch - they don't': Kenny Shiels blasts 'long ball' Cork City

Derry meet the league leaders at Maginn Park tomorrow night.

DERRY CITY BOSS Kenny Shiels has stoked the flames ahead of Friday night’s clash with runaway league leaders Cork City at Maginn Park by branding the Leesiders a ‘long ball’ team.

John Caulfield’s side are unbeaten after 18 games, having dropped just two points so far this season. They’ve scored 52 goals – an average of 2.8 per match – and conceded just nine.

Meanwhile, the Candystripes are in fifth place after a loss to Bray Wanderers last week and sit 24 points behind The Rebel Army.

Still, Shiels has come out fighting in advance of tomorrow’s clash, delving into the dark arts in an effort to cause an upset.

“They play long and win second balls,” he said.

“That’s not a criticism, it’s a fact. We play football in every part of the pitch, because that’s what the game was created for – they don’t.”

Cork City manager John Caulfield celebrates their third goal Morgan Treacy; ©INPHO / Morgan Treacy/INPHO Morgan Treacy; ©INPHO / Morgan Treacy/INPHO / Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Shiels seemed to question Caulfield’s coaching too, suggesting City’s greatest strength is their physicality rather than technical ability.

“They don’t play football right through the channels but they deserve so much credit for what they’ve done,” he continued.

“They are strong and physical and are a team that’s not coached to play, they are a trained team and will fight for second balls. They have a blend, players who can fight, and four or five technical players on top of that.”

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