DAMIEN DUFF and Mipo Odubeko were at loggerheads during the week.
But the Shelbourne boss turned his ire on Roddy Collins after his criticism of the striker prior to his winner against Bohemians.
The former Bohs boss didn’t pull any punches in his assessment of Odubeko[/caption]
Odubeko, 22, came off the bench to settle Friday’s northside derby when he cut inside and toe-poked the ball home.
The Tallaght man said he had received no tactical instructions before going on because he and Duff had been ‘fighting all week’ with the player not happy at starting just one of the previous three games.
But when the ex-Ireland star was told that Virgin Media pundit Collins had labelled Odubeko as ‘probably one of the worst finishers I have seen in Irish football’ – although he did praise other attributes – Duff went on the offensive.
Duff said: ”I love Roddy but I think it’s a really poor comment, really poor.
“Especially about a young boy who has maybe been a bit lost at times, bouncing from club to club.
“We’ve given him that foundation to kick on his career. Hopefully that’s here or really do well and go back to England.
“Here, it’s an awful comment. You need to do your homework better to come out with a big comment like that.”
Odubeko – who has had spells at Manchester City, Manchester United, West Ham, Maritimo and Fleetwood Town prior to joining Shels – has three goals in seven starts and three substitute appearances for the Reds.
And Duff said: “Against Waterford, it was a double moment in the box and sidefoot finish into the bottom corner. Friday’s I need to watch it back, but it was a chop and toe poke.
“The only player I ever saw to score with toe pokes was Romario. He was one of the best strikers ever.
“His finish in the President’s Cup was a backheel. I love Roddy but I think he’s let himself down there.
“If anyone ever says anything about my players I’ll go for them as well. Mipo, the lot of them, they are my boys and I look after them.”
Odubeko was thwarted in a one-on-one with St Pat’s keeper Joseph Anang last week but Duff said: “There were many ways you could look at last week. Can he take it on? OK, he didn’t.
“Can he go sidefoot? Robbie Keane always went sidefoot but he didn’t.
“But Mipo has a hell of a finish with just a slap of his laces.
“It was going into the bottom corner and the save from the St Pat’s keeper took my breath away.
“He’s a young player and I will never, ever criticise a player for missing a chance.
“Was it an awful finish? No. Here, Mipo played really a big part in our season.
“I know he’d be slightly disappointed because I know he wants to play a bigger role. I’ve no doubt he’ll play a bigger role.
“It’s a poor comment, especially towards a young player who is trying to find his feet again.
“Mipo is all about goals. His business is assists and goals.
“He’s so young and wants it so bad but when you want it so bad it mightn’t actually happen.
FAIR REACTION
“He didn’t celebrate because he’s probably angry.
“He wanted to start this, the biggest game of the season you could say and the biggest game in Ireland tonight, so there was everything in there. Emotion, relief, ‘F Off Duffer’.
“Like I said to him, when a player doesn’t play the only way to show how angry you are is to go out and affect the game. He did it.
“I left him alone this week, there’s probably nothing I can tell him.
“I could jazz it up all I want but sometimes you just leave them, so I left him.
“I didn’t say a word to him because you know you’re going to get a reaction.
“He knew he was going to be first sub on the pitch and he backs himself, heart of hearts, to get the winner.
“It’s up to me when to speak to them and how to speak to them. It’s not always about constant love, it might be the other way.”