Troy Parrott assesses Greece defeat and identifies key area where Ireland must improve
Ireland lost 2-0 away to Greece in Piraeus on Sunday night, with both goals coming in the second-half
Troy Parrott admits Ireland cannot afford to be so slow out of the blocks again, as it leaves them playing catch-up.
The Boys in Green slumped to a 2-0 defeat in Greece last night, the fourth time they have lost to them in the last 16 months.
Ireland went into the break scoreless but Caoimhin Kelleher made three brilliant saves to keep the scoreline as respectable as it was.
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And defenders Nathan Collins, Liam Scales and Dara O’Shea made all sorts of blocks and interventions to prevent it becoming a rout.
Ireland only got going in the second-half, and the arrival of Jack Taylor and Festy Ebosele helped their cause.
But by that stage, Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men were playing catch up as they had conceded a 48th minute goal.
And AZ Alkmaar striker Parrott knows Ireland cannot continue to shoot themselves in the foot like that and think they can get away with it.
Parrott said: “I think it comes down to ourselves, we waited until they scored to start playing, getting balls on the box.
“That’s on us, we need to work on doing that earlier in games because when we did do it we put pressure on them and created some chances.
“None of us can do anything about it, there are some positive signs in there but it’s about us trying to create more chances earlier in the game.”
Parrott continued: “We knew it was going to be a tough game when we came here as they’re a good team and played well during the week [against England] .
“Obviously through circumstances that happened during the week (with George Baldock’s tragic death) it’s given them that extra bit of motivation.
“So we knew it was going to be a tough game coming into the stadium. I think we did well, Caoimh had to make saves of course but that’s what he’s there for.
“We defended well in the first half but I just think there was a little bit too much in terms of them just coming at us and us not really doing much to go back.
“It’s about trying to create chances earlier.”
Ireland gifted Greece their second goal at the death, when Kelleher undercooked a pass to Nathan Collins that was seized upon and finished to the net.
“Everyone makes mistakes and Caoimh doesn’t make many,” continued Parrott, who is thriving in the Dutch league with six goals in six games before these internationals.
“Everyone in the dressing room is behind him, but I don’t think he needs it because he’s strong enough mentally to deal with it.
“Obviously it’s frustrating to give a good side like this chances, especially at that time in the game when we were coming back into it and creating good chances ourselves.”
Parrott played the entire game in his first start for the manager and he would love to form a regular partnership with Evan Ferguson.
Hallgrimsson has made no bones about the fact he will keep a rigid starting team for all games when he can, and has urged players to make the shirt their own.
Parrott is up for the challenge and said: “I enjoyed being out there, I feel like I’ve started slowly, we all did to be fair. Then we started to get into it and make stuff happen.
“But this is what you want, it’s why we all play football to deliver on the biggest stage. I'm buzzing to play but really, really disappointed with the result.”
But while disappointed with this result in Greece, Parrott feels it is important not to lose sight of the positive result in Finland.
And he hopes that confidence will continue going into next month’s home clash with the Finns, where a win would help Ireland avoid relegation.
The Boys in Green then close out the campaign away to England in November and Parrott said: “There's just some small details that we need to put together.
“If we do, things will start looking up for us. It was nice to get that first win in Finland.”
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