Cougars loss an 'eye-opener'

Devonshire Cougars boss Dennis Brown says his team must display the mental toughness to prove they can cope with being the top team on the island.

The Premier League, FA Cup and Friendship Trophy champions lost their opening Dudley Eve Trophy match to Dandy Town on Monday 2-1. 

It was a result that, while hardly sparking widespread panic, did upset Brown enough to hold a team meeting to ‘iron out’ some early-season problems.

He knows full well that Cougars are now the most sought-after scalp in the  country and challenged his team to up their intensity when they take on Somerset Trojans on Saturday, a game Cougars must win to stay in the competition.

Brown told the Bermuda Sun: “The defeat [to Dandy Town] should be an eye-opener to our players in that no one will be laying down for Cougars this season. 

“The opposite will be the case, where every opponent will be gunning for us because of what was achieved last season. 

“We must show a high level of mental toughness against all opponents and go into each match with an intensity and mindset to match opponents in all departments. 

“I am never happy after a loss but remember this is our first loss of any kind since October 12 last year. I had a team meeting last night to iron out some things that I was not pleased with on Monday, but in the long run we will be fine. 

“The season is a marathon and not a sprint so there will be many ups and downs, so one defeat does not define a season. 

“After winning three trophies last season I believe the players set their own bar very high so they must work harder this year to compete for everything again this season. 

“We must come prepared to battle because Somerset will not lay down and give us anything.”