The Commentary Box: Dundalk are in their worst slump of form since relegation

They went ten points clear of closest rivals Pats and Bohs with the win over Dundalk. Bohemians and Pats played on Sunday; Pats won, so they cut Rovers' lead to seven points. Bohemians were beaten by Waterford.

They remain ten points behind Rovers. They are out of the title race. Dundalk are in their worst slump of form since they were relegated two years ago. Ciaran Kilduff's side have won only one game in their last six league matches.

They have lost four of them and drawn two. Dundalk's defence was very poor on Friday night against a Shamrock Rovers side that was much changed from their European game earlier in the week. Rovers made seven changes.

Ciaran Kilduff's tactic of playing three centre backs did not work as it has in other games. Rovers were given too much space. Thus, as a result, when attacking, they had Dundalk on the ropes.

They reverted to the straight back four in the second half. It tightened things up considerably at the back. Rovers did likewise, resulting in no more goals. But this was a bad-tempered game.

There were 11 yellow cards in a tempestuous game that saw Ciaran Kilduff and Rovers manager Stephen Bradley among those being booked.

Rovers assistant manager Glen Cronin was also booked, with their coach Sean Kavanagh getting a red card. Stephen Bradley, in a post-match interview, hit out at Dundalk left full-back Bobby Burns, who was yellow-carded for a foul on Cian Barrett.

Bobby is not the kind of player who would deliberately go out and hurt somebody. He won the ball fairly. The youngster was able to play on for another 15 minutes before Stephen Bradley took him off.

The tackle was not late. Bobby Burns won the ball fairly. Stephen Bradley was way over the top in his criticism of Bobby Burns. Bradley said that for the referee to see what happened was completely wrong.

The Rovers manager accused the Dundalk full-back of going out of his way to hurt Cian Dillon. Bradley says that for the referee not to see what happened or to laugh it off was unacceptable. He says it would really make you question what was going on.

The young Rovers player was taken to hospital. But it was believed that he was ok. Bradley had already used all five subs.

The fact that the Rovers player was able to play on for another 20 minutes signifies that he must have been ok. He was taken off by Stephen Bradley after he was involved in a fair body check with Daryl Horgan,

Dundalk manager Ciaran Kilduff told the Irish Daily Sun on Saturday that Bradley's interview was a coward's interview. The Rovers manager says the foul was let go unpunished.

It eventually saw Cian Barrett carried off on a stretcher 20 minutes later. The Rovers boss says Burns' tackle was career-ending, a coward's tackle and that Burns had done nothing in the game.

Bradley's rant only became news to Kilduff long after the game was over and well after he had completed his media duties.

The Dundalk boss says Bradley never raised the issue with him after the final whistle. "I do not even think it was the worst tackle of the match. So to say it was the worst tackle of the match is just pure hyperbole.

"I know he mentioned it to the media. But maybe he could have been more condemning of the supporter who came onto the pitch after our second goal. In my opinion, the tackle on Ronan Teahan was worse.

There was no attempt to play the ball. We had to take Ronan off just two minutes into the second half. It was a game of tough tackles. But Stephen Bradley's interview must be addressed.

"The Rovers boss speaks with such entitlement that he thinks that his opinion on it is the facts. Everyone's to blame. Bobby, the ref, and even last week's ref.

“Maybe Stephen is trying to distract from leaving the young player on the pitch as long as he did and potentially having to play with ten players. Kilduff told the Sun that he went over with Bobby Burns to see the player.

"We had to take Mayowa and Teahan off straight after halftime. We do not know if leaving Cian on the pitch has made it worse. The most important thing for me in this, and it's important, is that we hope Cian's injury is not too bad.

"I went over, and Bobby did as well to see how he was. Stephen never spoke to me or any of my staff about the incident. But then there was a personal hit piece from him afterwards."

The Rovers' manager gave a coward's interview. Never once did he mention it to me. I went down and did all my media duties. I had no knowledge that he felt that wronged and victimised by that moment.

It's way out of line what he said. Nobody wanted to injure the player. Bobby is a tenacious player, but there is no reputation like the one that Stephen is trying to create.

Ironically, Bobby previously had his own leg broken in a red card tackle a number of seasons ago. To come out and say that Bobby is a player who has achieved nothing in the game. That's just complete ignorance and entitlement.''

Ciaran told Irish Sun Sport that talking down to people like this is condescending; it's a bad look.

"Get off your bloody pedestal. Get out of your Ivory tower. You do not get to play the overseer. When you have all the resources and the opportunity, maybe it gives you an air of grandeur.

But it does not make you the overseer, and it does not make you right. There are three reasons why I am responding to the Rovers manager interview. First is to wish Cian a speedy recovery. I do not know what the injury is.

I hope it's as minor as it can be. He is a smashing young player. The second reason why I am doing this interview is that what Stephen Bradley said in his post-match interview is damning, and three, I will always protect my players.

I can not stand by and not address what the Rovers manager said. He is painting a picture of Bobby that's not true. It's not like he has a track record. I know the tackle might be bad.

But the worst in 10 years. Please, it was not that bad. If that's Stephen's way of protecting his player, this is my way of protecting mine.

Stephen Bradley has called for Bobby Burns to get a massive ban. Referees and their officials have to protect players and make decisions. "I have not seen a tackle like that in a long time. That's career-ending. Please, God, it's not that cant be accepted. It's not good enough.

It happened when a Rovers fan seemed intent on having a go at Daryl Horgan on the pitch when he scored from the penalty spot.

The ugly incident will have to be looked at by the FAI. As Horgan celebrated, a Shamrock Rovers supporter had no problem getting onto the Tallaght Stadium pitch to confront Daryl for scoring.

This was an absolute disgrace. This individual was able to get way too close to Daryl. He was nearly right in his face. To be fair to Rovers security and some Dundalk players, the individual was quickly restrained.

He was taken away. What action that awaits him will be interesting. Some say he should get a lifetime ban from Tallaght. He may also be banned for the remainder of the season and onto next season as well. That's a matter for Shamrock Rovers.

I thought that the Dundalk manager was spot on in his interview on Saturday. He had to come out and react to it. Why did Stephen Bradley say nothing to Ciaran how he felt.

And then launch a scathing attack to the Dublin media about Bobby Burns. I thought what Stephen Bradley said was a disgrace and I would myself have expected a lot more from him than this outburst.

Dundalk have now conceded 41 league goals in 27 games. They have the fourth worst defence in the league. They have surrendered 26 points from winning positions in league games. They are on a terrible run of league form.

On paper, their form is like one you would see from a team that was in serious relegation trouble. They may be in fourth place at the moment. But clubs below them have games in hand.

They will slide down the table at a fairly rapid pace, unless they can start winning. This is the big problem. Dundalk seem to have forgotten how to win. And when that happens, it's very hard to get that back.

Shelbourne are three points behind Dundalk. They have tone game in hand on Dundalk. Derry are only four points behind. They will win most games from now until the end of the season, now that Tiernan Lynch is gone. Galway have a game in hand. Win that, they are only four points behind Dundalk.

Drogheda would have an outside chance of catching Dundalk if they were to start winning. They are nine points behind Dundalk with nine games remaining. Waterford are no longer in the dreaded play-off spot.

They are nine points behind Dundalk. That's all. Dundalk are clear off in the play off spot. It's nothing when you see how Dundalk are dropping points so easily.

I think it's unlikely Dundalk will get into a play-off crisis. But you just do not know. It's a real shame that this team seems to have hit the buffers. No other manager would have had to deal with what Ciaran Kilduff has had to do.

He has lost his best striker to a UK club and a top-class midfielder to another English club. The loss of Eoin Kenny and Gbemi Arubi has been phenomenal.

I know you can't keep players if they want to go. But it's bound to have affected the team morale. But Dundalk's losing streak began before Eoin Kenny and Gbemi Arubi left the club.

Sean Keogh went last season while Vinny Leonard also went at the end of June. Vinny had been only able to play a couple of games due to a serious illness. He was so badly missed in the centre of the defence.

But Kilduff has had to play with a huge list of injuries. I have never seen it as high in one season in a long time. The latest injury worry is Tyreke Wilson. He has a hamstring injury and could be out for some time.

His brother JR Wilson also has a serious hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Conor Cairns is out since the start of the season and will remain so for the rest of the year. Shane Tracey has a back injury.

It's not known how long he will be out. Danny Mullen was a key striker. However, he has missed most of the season. Harvey Warren has been out for months. He is expected back soon. But that could be weeks, with only nine games to go.

And Mayowa and Ronan Teahan had to go off injured early into the second half in Tallaght last Friday. Mayowa has had problems with his hamstring all year. He had been moved out of defence and into midfield during the Rovers game.

He was replaced early in th the second half. Ronan Teahan also went off injured also on 48 minutes. If their injuries are long-term, then Dundalk will be in even bigger trouble.

Using three at the back has worked in some games for Dundalk. But in the past few it has not. The defence has been very porous. I am sure that the players are fed up hearing how well they have played and then get little or nothing from the game.

A team's defence is like the foundations of a house. If they are not strong, a house will last no time. A soccer team has also got to have a strong defence.

And they obviously must have a good goalkeeper. Good teams are built on these principles. This Dundalk team is not strong at the back. Hence they are dropping points everywhere.

Ciaran Kilduff's style of football is to attack. To play attractive football. That is fine, and the three centre halves allow that philosophy of a team to grow strong. But Dundalk's defence has been poor all season.

They can't hold a lead for any length of time. Part of it is down to the goalkeeper. I have seen Dundalk lead by two goals going into the last ten minutes of games at Oriel. And yet they conceded three goals in the last part of the game. This game was against Waterford.

I've seen lead a goal to nil against Drogheda, yet mistakes allowed Drogheda to score twice at the death and get the points. Last week, Dundalk played Sligo off the park.

Yet again in the dying minutes it was a serious ing blunder that handed a point to the North West side. But responsibility does not lie just on the shoulders of just a small number of players. The team has not been playing as well as it could.

It was not at its best on Friday night against Rovers. When the home side got free kicks or corners, they were not dealt with properly much of the time. They did not stay with Rovers. And they could have.

Add to this that the manager has had to deal with top players being sold, a huge injury list and a distinct lack of financial clout that is preventing him from bringing in the top players. It must be very frustrating for the manager and his staff and for the players.

They can't keep a settled team together. I again raise the question of the astro turf pitch. Is this playing its part in the growing injury list as the season goes on? I do not know. But something is causing it.

Dundalk went into Friday's game as the only side that Rovers have yet to beat this season. But they were on the ropes within 95 seconds of the start. Rovers' John O'Sullivan put a great pass into the Dundalk box.

Enda Minogue tried to come for the ball and clear it. He took Michael Noonan down in the box instead. Maybe he had no other choice. It's debatable. Dylan Watts converted the spot kick.

Dundalk, to their credit, did not fold. Daryl Horgan put a great ball through to Cian Dillon. It was down the side of Tunmise Sobowale. Ed McGinty cleared.

But Dundalk levelled fifteen minutes into the first half. It came from a series of errors in the Rovers defence. They conceded a needless corner.

Horgan delivered it into the box.McGinty came to claim it but failed to do so. Dundalk centre half Rob Cornwall was there to shoot home from close range.

The Oriel Park team should have taken the lead when Cory O'Sullivan's back pass was short. Ronan Teahan slipped as he tried to nip in to score.McGinty saved the ball with his foot. Dillon hooked the loose ball over the bar.

Within a minute, Dundalk were a goal behind again. Watts and Healy did a marvellous one-two pass to each other. Cornwall went to ground to block Watts. The Rovers midfielder got his cross in. It was inswinging. Noonan was there to héad home.

Horgan went close with a shot that was just wide of the Rovers post. Dundalk's equaliser came minutes later. Dillion forced the Rovers defence into a mistake. Lee Grace tried to clear the danger.

Instead, he fouled in the box. Horgan stepped up to score. He just blasted the ball to the roof of the net. A Rovers supporter ran onto the pitch as stewards amazingly failed to stop him.

Ronan Teahan and Rob Cornwall stopped the supporter from getting near Horgan. He stood his ground. The hooligan threw a punch at Bobby Burns before Rovers security arrived to take him away.

It was a serious breach of security. I am sure that Rovers will now face a fine for the incident. It's a very serious security breach as this fan could have been carrying a concealed weapon. Thankfully, he was not.

Rovers took the lead for the third and final time on 37 minutes with a goal that also turned out to be a winner. Forner Bohemians player Afolabi marked his debut for Rovers with the vital goal.

Burns made a dreadful clearance from John O'Sullivan's pass. Afolabi superbly got the better of Tom Grivosti. He fired the ball through the legs of Mayowa and into the net.

There were no more goals in the game. Trevor Clarke did have a cracking shot saved so well by Ed McGinty. He made a superb one-handed save.

Leo Gaxha, now on as a sub, forced the Rovers keeper into a great save. Enda Minogue also took off two good saves from Asamoah. He was the Rovers man of the match.

My Dundalk man of the match had to be Horgan. If he gets injured, Dundalk will be in trouble. He is superb. He ran the Dundalk team with a superb performance.

Minogue 5.Clarke 6. Mayowa 5.Groome 5 for Mayowa on 48 mins. Cornwall 6.Grivosti 6.Dervin 8. Buckley 7. Teahan 6. McDaid replaced him on 48 mins. Dillon 8. Gaxha 5 replaced Dillon on 52 mins.

Dundalk play Castlebar Celtic in the cup next Saturday at 5pm, in Oriel Park. I mentioned last week that this game has been fixed for a date and time that will not suit all supporters.

The 15th August is a special day for this region. It's a holiday day where traditionally many people head to Blackrock, hail, rain, sun or snow. The biggest Dundalk horse race meeting of the year is held on Saturday afternoon.

This is followed straight away by the largest greyhound race meeting of the year, which will also be held at Dundalk Stadium. The attendance is bound to be affected by all these events.

The gate receipts must be split equally between the home and away team in the cup. So the money Castlebar may have hoped to get from the draw against Dundalk will be hit. The FAI's part of the receipts will also be affected.

I just hope that Ciaran Kilduff plays his strongest team. You can not take teams for granted. I am saying this as the Dundalk boss did play an understrength team against Saint Mochtas in the previous round.

He understandably wanted to give some players some much needed rest and others some much needed game time. They got past Mochtas. But I have seen many cup shocks involving Dundalk in the past.

It would be an unmitigated disaster if Dundalk went out due to the fact that they did not play a full-strength team. The cup now looks to be Dundalk's only chance of getting into Europe next season. I will be expecting to see the best players available.

Eoin Kenny came on as a sub for his new club Portsmouth on Saturday, in the League Cup against West Ham. Portsmouth were beaten 3-1. But the feedback on Eoin’s 25-minute performance was very good.

Have a great week. Enjoy the 15th of August weekend, whatever you are doing. Be careful out there. And remember to look after yourself and each other.