Cobh Ramblers aim to bounce back from recent defeats against Athlone Town

Cobh Ramblers will aim to get back to winning ways when they face Athlone Town this evening at Lissywollen, kick-off 7:45pm.

Fran Rockett and his players will make the journey to the midlands without a win in their last two outings, following defeats to Cork City and UCD, a sequence that has left them fourth in the table.

It's not all bad - play-off rivals Wexford and Kerry have also been on a stuttering run of form of late, with Longford the only team to capitalise after they beat UCD last week at Bishopsgate.

Cobh are now preparing to play Athlone and Bray Wanderers in the league, two rivals for a place in the play-offs with a game against Waterford in the FAI Cup wedged between them.

Rockett isn’t reading too much into this trilogy, he is focusing on his squad and improving the group as a whole.

“Those are massive games – but all the games are big,” he said.

“The Cork City game was big. I thought our run-up to the Cork City game, from a psychological perspective, I thought we were in a really, really good place. We got beaten by UCD 2-0, two set-plays but our general game plan worked.

“But again, we just lack the killer instinct on top of times against Cork where we have to be a little bit brave or a little bit cuter or have that little bit of nous to try to, you know, create something. Because up to a point, we've been really good. 

It's just that last little layer we need to connect with the other side of the pitch and that.

“So, those are all big games coming up and we are looking forward to them. Like every game this season, we don't get too down. 

"We really don't. We're looking to bounce back in training, prepare for Athlone and, treat Athlone with the respect they deserve.

“But also, take the positives. There was a lot of positives against Cork City. It was disappointing, but we've got to move on.” 

Rockett has repeatedly went on record saying he knows his team might struggle at times this year, but he sees the bigger picture in terms of developing young players at St Colman’s Park.

“I said this at the start of the season – if it means we can get the likes of Kai O’Neill, Rhys Kelly Noonan, Rhys Brennan, Luka Le Bervet, Mikey Carroll, and all the young lads minutes,” he explained.

“They learn from these results, and we still have to play Cork City down there as well but, you know, I'm happy with a lot of it, just disappointed with a little bit of naivety but we will get better, we will get better.” 

YOUTHFUL PROMISE

The young core at Cobh featured in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to City, a game decided by Ruairi Keating in the fifth minute after Niall O'Keeffe sent the ball to the right wing. Cobh threw everything at City in the hope of getting an equaliser, but they never threatened a backline marshalled by Fiacre Kelleher.

There was injury to insult, as Cian Coleman was forced off in just the 16th minute and his name has now been added to a list that also includes Dylan McGlade.

Gary Buckley has also announced his retirement from professional football, after lining out last Friday against Cork City.

Cobh are now looking to strengthen their squad, a process that included the signing of defender Ronan Mansfield on loan from Waterford for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old moves to the Great Island after making seven appearances in the Premier Division this year, and is expected to take the place of Buckley.

Mansfield will be available for Friday, against an Athlone team are now third from bottom, four points off the play-offs.

Cobh know what Athlone can do when they are on form, they were downed 2-0 last Match at Lissywollen. 

The Ramblers did get revenge in their second encounter, at St. Colman's Park, with McGlade scoring the winning goal in the 35th minute.

Rockett will want some sort of sequel on Friday, at the beginning of a daunting run of fixtures for Cobh.