John O’Shea Supports Evan Ferguson in Ending Goal Drought
Interim Republic of Ireland manager, John O’Shea, has expressed his support for teenager Evan Ferguson to end his goal drought after the Brighton striker missed a penalty during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Belgium. Despite the setback, O’Shea believes that Ferguson has the potential to bounce back and find his scoring form once again.
Ferguson, who is only 19 years old, had a first-half spot-kick saved by Belgium goalkeeper Matz Sels at the Aviva Stadium. This unfortunate miss extended his run without a goal for both club and country to 21 games, dating back to the end of November. However, O’Shea remains optimistic about Ferguson’s abilities, stating that “it happens with top strikers” and that he will soon be back on a goal-scoring run.
The opportunity for Ferguson to break his goal drought came 24 minutes into the game when Arthur Vermeeren was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area. Unfortunately, Ferguson slipped as he approached the ball, resulting in a mis-hit attempt that Sels blocked with his legs. O’Shea acknowledged the slip but commended Ferguson for his courage and determination. He believes that the missed penalty did not affect Ferguson’s confidence as he continued to create opportunities and contribute to the team’s performance.
In addition to Ferguson, O’Shea also recalled former teammates Seamus Coleman and Robbie Brady for the match against Belgium. He also handed a debut to Blackburn forward Sammie Szmodics. The Irish team displayed solid performances throughout the game, with Ferguson’s physicality and Chiedozie Ogbene’s pace posing a threat to the Belgian defense. However, they were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Sels.
Reflecting on the game, O’Shea expressed some frustration at missed opportunities. He believed that if his team had converted their chances, it would have opened up more opportunities against Belgium. Despite the frustration, O’Shea acknowledged the significance of a clean sheet against a strong team like Belgium, but also expressed disappointment in the end result.
John O’Shea will continue to lead the Republic of Ireland as their interim manager in their upcoming friendly international against Switzerland in Dublin on Tuesday evening. With his support and belief in Ferguson’s abilities, it is hoped that the young striker will soon find his scoring touch and help lead the Irish team to future victories.