Duff questions Shels players motivation and preparation
Damien Duff said he would have been embarrassed if Shelbourne had taken even a point from Friday night's clash with Derry City at Tolka Park as he questioned the motivation of his champions.
Michael Duffy's cracking 54th minute strike sealed a fully deserved 1-0 win for Derry against a Shelbourne side whom Duff said never 'woke up'.
"A bad night, a sobering night," said Reds head coach Duff. "(We) didn't deserve anything from it. Huffed, puffed.
"Yes, we had some moments in the first half, the second half. But I'd be embarrassed walking home with a point.
"Not that they created a lot. They definitely play with a bit of quality. We certainly didn't.
"The biggest thing to take away was (a lack of) quality, quality, quality, absolutely zero energy, flatness.
"I don't accept that that's our third game in a week. Never have, never will until the day I die.
"If you are an amazing pro you bounce into the night. Even if you are a bit tired, a bit flat, drag yourself along, give yourself a talking to.
"Here, I don't like being the one shouting and screaming on the sideline… "Duffer's at it again!" That's the energy that I have.
"I prepared for the game today like I was a professional footballer. My wife probably cursed me at times. Three-hour siesta, ate really well, focused my mind.
"I would like to really, really know how many of my players prepared like me or as well as me, which is damning.
"There was a severe lack of energy, real flatness, severe lack of quality and you are going to get nowhere."
Duff sensed his side was off in training on Thursday and smelt this performance.
"Training was awful (on Thursday)," said Duff, whose side remain fifth in the table but have now slipped 15 points off runaway leaders Shamrock Rovers.
"I've been around football a long, long time and you can have training amazing on a Thursday and be really poor on a Friday. You can have a poor training session on a Thursday and be brilliant on a Friday.
"So it was off the back of two days of not being on the pitch. Played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday back in Thursday.
"But that's where you have to be an amazing pro, an elite pro, a pro that belongs in the Champions League which are strange words for me to say at the minute.
"Just really having a sharp mind and paying real respect to your training and the detail you were going to be getting.
"Here, did I smell it (on Thursday)? Of course. It was awful. It all comes from within, your energy, your motivation, how good a professional you are.
"I don't mind saying it again, because it is absolutely true. The staff, I guess I'm the front of shop then, I'm the manager and it's my energy and that's why some days this year I crawl in.
"It's my energy that has driven the players for four years. I've offered them the dressing room for them to lead this show, this steam train. They've never really done it.
"Again, it's me shouting and screaming. Joe (O'Brien, assistant) shouting and screaming. We had a real energy because we were highly motivated men, prepared well and I didn't feel that spark, that energy off the players.
"You're all probably saying 'here he goes again'.
"I'm trying to drag the team, trying to wake them up, but they never woke up."
Shelbourne now travel to face Waterford at the RSC on Monday with Duff saying he doesn't know what response to expect from his players.
"I don't know. For three years, we've been an incredibly motivated team. If you had a bad night it was a given that you get a reaction. You know us.
"As I told the lads upstairs, I don't know. Monday there will be a team, there will be changes.
"You never know with us anymore, which is damning. It's damning on me because I'm the manager.
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