Darren Mullen Newry City v Armagh City post-match

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Newry City manager Darren Mullen spoke to us on Friday evening after his side drew with Armagh City 1-1.

Transcript

00:00Darren, one-all draw. How do you reflect on the game?

00:03I suppose a mixture of emotions. Disappointed we couldn't hold on to the win.

00:07We were sitting at half-time, 1-0 up, thinking can we see the game out.

00:11Second half we huffed and puffed and I suppose at the end of it,

00:16take 10 men at the end, they're putting the ball into the box.

00:19At that stage you're happy enough with a point.

00:21And look, we're stretched. I'm not one for making excuses for injuries,

00:25but we really are. We're stretched to the limit at the minute.

00:27We pulled in three 20s that didn't even train us last night.

00:31We've lost another three tonight.

00:33So we're below bare bones at this stage.

00:36We're just trying to get bodies on the bench, even just to fill the squad.

00:38So I have to give credit to the lads for that.

00:40We could see at the end, cramping up.

00:42We're asking a lot of the same players every week.

00:45We're not having that luxury of mixing the squad up

00:48and giving lads a bit of a break.

00:50But again, it is what it is.

00:52That's the third game at home now since we came back

00:55and we haven't been beaten yet.

00:56So you have to take the positives out of it.

00:58Are you starting to feel the effects of that, the likes of the depth?

01:01Because I think it's probably fair to say the first hour, 75 minutes,

01:03you're probably the better team.

01:04But our man made five subs, they got bodies on.

01:07Were you feeling the effects that you're missing so many starting players?

01:11Yeah, we were.

01:12And no disrespect to the young lads, they'll get their chance.

01:14But you're looking at a game of this importance,

01:18even early on in the season.

01:20It's a difficult game to throw young lads into.

01:22And it puts a lot of pressure on them.

01:24So whilst our man had that luxury tonight,

01:27they can add in seasoned players.

01:29We don't have that luxury at the minute.

01:31But we're going to have to use Tuesday night to blood those players in.

01:34That's what it's really going to be, giving those lads a chance.

01:37Because as I said, we've lost another three tonight

01:39and we have a few that are carrying knocks.

01:40So we can't start risking players.

01:42When it was 1-0, you had a number of chances to make it two.

01:45So is it a positive that you're creating the chances,

01:47but then maybe a little bit disappointed that you couldn't take them?

01:49Yeah, when you're 1-0 up, we created a lovely chance

01:53here on the right-hand side.

01:55Adam just hit it wide.

01:56And we are creating chances.

01:58But I suppose the other side of it is

02:00it's the manner in which we've seen the game out.

02:02The manner of the game is the same as last week against Harley-Davidson.

02:04I mentioned it last week, about possibly a month ago,

02:07feeling sorry for ourselves and not being able to see it.

02:09We dug in.

02:10And the biggest compliment that I can give the lads is

02:12it looks like a group of players who are fighting for each other.

02:15And I said before the game,

02:17if you give me your all, that's all I can ask for.

02:19And they are, in fairness, giving me their all.

02:21100 per cent.

02:22Now, obviously, you've touched on it already.

02:23You have Cup football on Tuesday night against Lough Gall.

02:25Are you expecting to see a rotated team?

02:27Maybe a few of those younger players getting a chance in from the start?

02:29Yeah, but it's not even through choice.

02:31We have to.

02:32We have to.

02:33And look, it could be good for those lads.

02:35From being here at the very start,

02:38I've always been one for blooding young lads in.

02:40And now it's going to be their opportunity.

02:42So they'll go in on Tuesday night.

02:43No pressure.

02:44Lough Gall will be favourites.

02:45It's a Premiership team.

02:47So they'll go in there and hopefully enjoy it

02:49and see what happens.

02:50We'll see what happens when we finally cut the handkerchief.

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