Alan Reynolds wasn’t one to hold back when he patrolled midfield as a player.
By his own admission, he ‘liked a tackle’ but the Waterford boss had no gripes over the match-changing red card in Tuesday’s defeat at Shamrock Rovers.
Lithuanian international Karolis Chvedukas was needlessly sent off for a wild and late challenge on Danny Lafferty in first-half injury time.
It came moments after the Blues had equalised and cost them the game as they were forced to defend for the remainder and lost 2-1.
Ahead of tonight’s home clash with Derry City, Reynolds said: “It was a straight red. I didn’t mind a tackle myself in my day but that’s a red.
“For the last eight weeks I haven’t got anyone to tackle! But the sending off changes it as a contest. He’s an experienced international which is not good enough and for me he’s let everyone down.”
Waterford will try pick up the pieces against the Candystripes but Reynolds is upbeat about Tuesday’s performance in Tallaght.
He continued: “Going to Shamrock Rovers is never easy but we battled hard, kept our shape well and could have got a point late in the game. That was exactly the performance, work rate and heart that I wanted.
“They spoke as a group during the week and knew they needed to up their game which they have done, so that’s what we need to bring into the Derry game.
Meanwhile, Derry boss Declan Devine has claimed ‘trebles are for darts’ and says he is determined to stop Dundalk’s drive for a domestic clean sweep.
The Lilywhites dumped Devine’s men out of the FAI Cup last weekend after an extra-time thriller and they meet in the EA Sports Cup final in a fortnight.
Devine said: “I remember Stephen Kenny once saying trebles were for darts. If Dundalk go on and win the treble, fair play to them.
“But there’s a lot of football to be played yet and I’m sure Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians will have something to say about that.
“We will have something to say about that when the League Cup final comes around but we have to go to the RSC first which is a very difficult game.”
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