'You need a wee bit of X-Factor' - Every word from Duncan Ferguson's first post-match verdict after Irish League debut as Glentoran boss
Manager Duncan Ferguson kicked off his career as Glentoran manager with a late rescue on the road as Jordan Stewart’s equaliser secured a 1-1 draw away to Premiership leaders Coleraine on his Irish League debut.
Storm Boelo left Ferguson’s proposed debut last weekend postponed at home to Ballymena United, resulting in a wait until Friday in Coleraine for his first Northern Ireland fixture.
Here’s the full post-match verdict of Duncan Ferguson:
ON COLERAINE CHALLENGE…
"League leaders...they've scored a lot of goals haven't they?
"I watched them (Saturday) and they scored five...so they've got a lot of attacking threats.
"But, to be honest with you, I thought the first half we restricted them to hardly any chances other than the boy (Joel Cooper) sticking one in the top corner.
"We just sat off him a wee bit...he was one of the key players that we highlighted before the game, especially on that left foot.
"We just sat off him a bit too much.
"When you give a quality player too much time, they'll do that to you.
"Other than that, I can't remember any chances in the first half.
"And if you gave me a draw before the match, I'd absolutely have took it, absolutely, 100 per cent."
ON FIRST POINT AS GLENS BOSS…
"It's a relief, because at the end of the day you're under pressure, aren't you?
"All of a sudden your first game's away to the league leaders...it's not easy, is it?
"But the boys performed, they performed great and they did a good job.
"I love it, absolutely...tactics are fantastic, but it's not about tactics.
"It's about fire and about determination and about running.
"And my players showed that in the second half."
ON GLENTORAN PERFORMANCE…
"We were probably a wee bit too passive in our shape.
"We didn't quite put the pressure on the ball that we wanted to do.
"We sorted it a wee bit at half-time, we went for it a bit more, we gambled more, we took more risks.
"They hit the inside of the post within five minutes of the second half starting but we went for it a bit more, took a bit more risks and created more chances.
"We never created anything in the first half.
"The second half was a bit more like us, that I'd want us to be.
"We've come to the best team in the league and in the second half I thought we went toe-to-toe with them, created good chances and obviously took one.
"So there was a lot of resilience and determination to get back into the match.
"I was pleased with that, I wasn't pleased with our technical game tonight.
"It's nice to score a goal but we just never created enough in the first half.
"So obviously creating goals, scoring goals is the hardest part of football.
"So you need a wee bit of X-Factor, somebody special.
"And the wee man (Jordan Stewart) popped up...he was very good in the second half, he was good in his 1v1s.
"He was getting by the wing-backs and I thought he was very good and he popped up with a lovely header."
ON LEARNING ABOUT THE IRISH LEAGUE…
"I think that's difficult (information), but football's not difficult.
"I've been everywhere, I've been with all the best in the world, I've seen it all.
"So that part is not difficult.
"But obviously finding the key players, opposition players...but I've got people at the club to help me with that.
"I'd gone and watched them (Coleraine) last week and so I had a good gauge about the players and I knew they were a good team.
"I'd watched them on the video, I'd watched a lot of games and I knew it was going to be a tough, tough match for us.
"The fans were fantastic, home and away fans.
"So it was a great atmosphere and I thought it was a good game, particularly the second half because we made it a better game.
"It was a lovely night and it was great to get a draw.
"I'll get back into my homework tomorrow.
"So one game at a time.
"We've got a bit of time to prepare for Carrick Rangers and I'll start doing my homework."