Latapy concerned over defence

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Head coach Russell Latapy says he is pleased with Trinidad and Tobago's winning start to the Digicel Caribbean Cup but remains concerned that the inexperience of his squad is leading to careless defensive mistakes.

The Soca Warriors thrashed St Vincent and the Grenadines 6-2 on Tuesday but conceded two first-half goals to leave the contest gingerly poised at half-time.

However, two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half put the game beyond the Vincentians as the hosts went on a goal-spree at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.

"All in all, this is the start we wanted. I'm pleased with a lot of things that happened [on Tuesday] but there are a lot of things that I was not too happy with and I feel we could do a lot better in those departments," Latapy pointed out.

"In terms of performance, I thought we had a better second-half than we did in the first half. There were too many defensive lapses in the first-half and we were able to rectify that in the second half."

T&T scored as early as the second minute when Devon Jorsling netted the first of his hat-trick, but SVG equalised five minutes later through Shandel Samuel.

Inexperience

Jorsling put the hosts in front again in the 28th minute but Cornelius Stewart hauled the Vincentians back on level terms seven minutes before the break.

Latapy said the inexperience at the back was evident with the goals his side had conceded, but noted there had been a vast improvement in the second half.

"First, there were a lot of young players playing in front of home fans for the first time in a long while," said the former Scotland professional who has been under fire in recent time for T&T's erratic form.

"They had some defensive lapses in the first half and we were able to rectify that in the second period and move the ball around a lot better.

"Our two centre-backs (Julius James and Daniel Cyrus) I thought they organised us a bit better in the second half but, again, I'm happy with the way they played."

T&T started Group F of the tournament under significant pressure after the country's Sports Minister Anil Roberts said recently that he would accept nothing less than a victory in the overall tournament.