Derry City 'harshly done by' in St Pat's loss - Lynch

Tiernan Lynch is in his first season as Derry City boss

Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch thought refereeing decisions "completely changed the outcome" of his side's loss to St Patrick's Athletic on Monday night.

The visitors to Richmond Park were beaten 2-0 as Aidan Keena converted a penalty in each half.

The Foylesiders were also reduced to 10 men less than a minute into the second half when Carl Winchester was dismissed for a tackle on Mason Melia.

"It's better that I don't elaborate on the red card or the two penalty decisions," said Lynch.

"I thought that we were very harshly done by.

"I thought decisions in the game that went against us completely changed the outcome."

Derry made headlines in the off-season with the signings of Northern Ireland internationals Liam Boyce, Gavin Whyte, Shane Ferguson and Winchester.

But the Candystripes have taken just three points from their first four games this season and sit second from bottom in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

'There's too many quality players in that changing room'

Lynch, who replaced Ruaidhri Higgins as Derry City boss in November, endured a similarly slow start to his reign at Larne before going on to win back-to-back Irish Premiership titles and leading the Inver Reds to the league phase of the Uefa Conference League.

"I've been here before. I'm big enough and ugly enough to work my through this," he said.

"I think there's too many quality players in that changing room. It can't last."

The former Glentoran assistant added, however, that nobody at the club was "shying away" from their poor start.

"At Derry City, every game you have to win, that's how I look at it.

"Regardless of how you play, decisions that go against you, that's not good enough.

"We're fully aware, we're not shying away, we face things head on."