Trinidad & Tobago head coach Dennis Lawrence (left) and defender Sheldon Bateau (right) speak to the press after an international friendly against visiting Guyana on November 14, 2017, in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo: CA-Images)
COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago – For its second outing at Ato Boldon Stadium in four days, Trinidad & Tobago fell behind only to rebound and earn a draw.
On Tuesday, the Soca Warriors saw Sheldon Holder give visiting Guyana a 19th-minute lead. In the second half, though, Shahdon Winchester – who missed Saturday’s 2-2 stalemate with Grenada – netted from 18-yards out to level for the host.
T&T head coach Dennis Lawrence acknowledged the trend.
“We need to ensure that we concentrate because you can’t be in a game for 90 minutes…you’ve got most of the possession…and the first time the ball enters your box we go 1-nil down,” said the 43-year-old. “Then we need to fight to come back again.”
The situation was even more taxing against the Grenadians, who jumped out to a 2-0 advantage, before Jamille Boatswain (88’) and Kevin Molino (90’+2) struck late to make sure the encounter ended on level terms.
“Obviously, there’s bits we need to improve on, but we had the opportunity to use the entire squad, which was the main thing for me,” Lawrence remarked about the benefits of getting the squad together for a pair of matches. “I’m pleased for having the opportunity to look at all these boys because these are the ones that we’re going to try go forward with.”
Defender Sheldon Bateau essentially echoed his manager’s assessment, while acknowledging that a new cycle is being launched.
“I must say that I’m happy with the performance tonight, not the result, but the performance,” commented the Kazakhstan-based 26-year-old. “It’s a young group and a little bit of inexperience, but with some more games and some more time, I think we’re going to get it right.
“There’s a lot of potential in the group. We have some work to do as players and as an association. We have some work to do.”
