Simon Ireland
Image by: Paul Hazlewood
PUBLISHED
19:27 15th September 2014
by James Hilsum
Their input around the dressing room and how they handle themselves is a great example to the players."
Simon Ireland
Simon Ireland
Brighton & Hove Albion under-21 coach Simon Ireland praised the impact of both Paddy McCourt and Nzuzi Toko, as the Seagulls beat Derby County 1-0 at Culver Road today.
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McCourt and Toko both played 90 minutes for Ireland’s side and the under-21 coach explained how valuable it was to have them in and around the dressing room.
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He told seagulls.co.uk, “They’re still a young side so it’s nice to have a couple of experienced players in there.
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“They help the team not just in terms of playing, but they’re good lads and help the boys with their expertise of how to manage the game.
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“Their input around the dressing room and how they handle themselves is a great example to the players.
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“Paddy was still working hard in the 89th/90th minute to try and close things down. When you say to the lads that you’ve got to work hard from minute one to minute 90 and they see a senior professional like that who has been doing it at the top clubs, then they understand that’s what you’ve got to do to get to the next level.
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“He’s got something different and can unlock doors with his ability. He’s got real quality and magic in his feet, allowing him to do things other players can’t do.
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“It’s unconventional skill that he produces, with little bits of magic like a little pass or a bit of individual one-v-one skill, but he also works hard and understands the game.
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“Toko also worked hard today and is adapting to the English style of the game, but he’s a competitor that wants to get on the ball and defend when he hasn’t got it. It will be interesting to see how he gets on in the English game.”
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Ireland was also pleased to secure a first win of the season and admitted there was not a lot to choose between the two sides on the day.
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“We knew Derby were going to work hard and press us just like their first-team do. I’ve said many times before that the under-21 sides try and mirror what their first-team do, so it’s easier for the manager to see any progression among the players.
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“Overall there wasn’t much in it; they nullified what we were trying to do and we nullified what they were trying to do, so it was a very close game and it adhered to the old cliché that one goal was going to decide it.
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“In the last couple of league games we’ve conceded just after half-time and in the couple of recent friendlies against Bournemouth and Charlton we’ve been trying to work on this, so it was nice that we scored just half-time for a change which put us on the front foot.
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“We were organised towards the end and weathered a storm, but I thought we looked quite comfortable in terms of dealing with the efforts that they had.”[h=2]UPCOMING HOME FIXTURES[/h][h=3]ALBION V blackpool
[/h]saturday 20TH september, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]ALBION V cardiff
[/h]TUESDAY 30th september, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]Albion v middlesbrough
[/h]saturDAY 18TH october, kick-off 3pm
Original article