Mipo Odubeko gave Shelbourne a crucial Champions league advantage over Linfield on Wednesday night but afterwards warned “this is far from over” ahead of the return leg in Belfast next week.
Odubeko steered home the only goal of the game at a raucous Tolka Park with 58 minutes gone to break down a deep-lying and stubborn rearguard.
The visitors are still in pre-season, and looked leggy at times, however they had enough resilience to frustrate Shelbourne for large chunks of this first qualifying round clash, while also showing an occasional threat going forward.
For Odubeko, there’s no doubt the rematch at Windsor Park is going to be a serious battle.
“It was really important to make the most of the home advantage because I think it’ll be a difficult game next week going up to their place,” the striker told RTÉ Sport’s Damien O’Meara.
“I’m sure they’ll make it difficult for us, as they did tonight. But listen, it’s good to go into the next game with the advantage.
“This is far from over. I think we put ourselves in a good position but we have to go up there next week and show a performance like we did tonight. The tie is far from over. We’re ready.”
Shels had loads of possession and played some nice football, but they fashioned few really clearcut chances throughout – a familiar lament this season.
“There’s been a lot of games like that,” Odubeko admitted. “There’s been a lot of games where we’ve dominated large parts of the game and we’ve not even come away with a goal, let alone a goal in the second half.
“If I’m honest I didn’t expect them to be as deep. They would have done their homework on us and figured out our strengthts and realised we’re good at running in behind so they would have dropped off.
“There’s been a lot of outside noise. The gaffer touched on it a lot that there’s been a lot of talk in and around this club for the past number of weeks with external factors, but the main thing is just doing the business on the pitch and I think the lads have conducted themselves really well. I’m really happy, and I’m really proud of the lads as well.”
Mark Coyle echoed his teammate’s sentiments.
With Damien Duff gone, replaced by his old No 2 Joey O’Brien, it’s been a rocky period for Shels but there’s signs things are beginning to settle again. A good result next Wednesday would do wonders for morale – not to mention give the club a significant cash injection and two more European safety nets (the Europa League and Conference League).
“We got the victory, that’s what we wanted,” said Coyle. “Now it’s all about next week. We’ve seen there tonight they are a very good side. That was a tough battle and next week is probably going to be a different game on their home patch.
“We could have won the game by more, definitely, but that’s done and dusted now.
“I definitely think we were up for it and the fans added to that, right from the warm-up to be honest with you. The place was bouncing. We felt that, it spurred us on.
“I think we enjoyed it to be honest. You have to enjoy those sorts of nights. But we knew you have to put in a performance in order to do that. I think we did that but it’s only half-time.”
