Cork City assistant manager John Cotter has rejected the idea that his players are suffering from a European hangover, insisting finding excuses for their poor league form would be "a cop-out".
The Leesiders have slumped to a defeat to Sligo and a draw last night with Bohemians, since going out of the Europa League last week, meaning they have failed to capitalise on league leaders Dundalk's own run of bad form as they continue on in the Champions League.
"We don't use that as an excuse," Cotter said. "These lads are professional lads and get plenty of recovery, so that would be a cop-out if we used it as an excuse.
"We just haven't taken our chances in the last two games. Hopefully on Monday, when we get back to it up in Derry, we'll take one of those chances and hopefully the three points."
The slip-ups leave Cork five points behind the champions, albeit with a game in hand, while Monday's game against the Candystripes has taken on added importance after Derry moved above Cork into second with a thumping 5-0 win over Finn Harps.
But Cotter believes Cork's recent results are the result of a lack of form in front of goal rather than fatigue brought about by a packed fixture list.
"It was a frustrating night in the end (against Bohs)," he conceded.
"We created lots of chances, just like on Monday night, but the boys just need to keep believing that one of those chances will go in, that we will score and go off on a run again.
"Bohs defended well and they dug in hard, but we're disappointed. We've another game on Monday, we have no time to feel sorry for ourselves.
"We've to get going again now and go on to another hard game in Derry."
