Crowd trouble had 'huge impact on game' - Lynch

Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch says the crowd trouble which led to a temporary stoppage of his side's Europa League defeat by CSKA Sofia at the Brandywell on Thursday night had an adverse effect on his side's chances of winning the game.

The Candystripes lost the game 2-1 and the first qualifying round tie 5-3 on aggregate.

Lynch's side levelled the tie on aggregate two minutes into the second half when Ellis Chapman headed them in front on the night.

The hosts, cheered on by a loud home support, looked like they would go on to win the game until referee Jasmin Sabotic was forced to take the players off the pitch before the hour mark after a section of the visiting support tried to get into the home section in the shared Southend Park stand.

Some Derry City fans had to come onto the playing surface until calm was eventually restored and play resumed again after nearly 15 minutes.

But the delay took the steam out of the home side with Ioannis Pittas, who scored a double in the first leg, taking advantage of a defensive mix up to put his side back in front again on 76 minutes.

Derry City pushed for a late leveller but Barry Cotter put through his own goal on 108 minutes, which led to objects being thrown at CSKA keeper Dimiar Emitov from the North Stand.

"I thought the swing in it was the break. I thought we had them right there as they ended up getting a breather that we didn't want them to have," Lynch told BBC Sport NI's Eric White.

"I think it had a huge impact on the game and I'm not making excuses in any way, shape or form.

"You could see after we scored the momentum really started to swing our way and that 13 or 14 minute break I thought gave them a lifeline, gave them a chance to get organised and regroup again.

"I still think we still had enough opportunities after that and the players have to take great credit for that."

The Derry boss explained that he had concerns for his own son's safety amid the trouble in the stands.

"My own wee man was in the crowd today and I wasn't sure where he was sitting so like the fans you were worried about the safety of your own kids.

"When you saw somebody falling over trying to get out of the way and bottles being thrown it looked like it was going to get extremely nasty, so great credit to the stewards, I thought they handled it brilliantly.

"It's not easy for the players to watch, they're very much concentrating on what they needed to do and the gameplan, and they have to go inside and worry about what's going on outside which isn't pleasant."

Despite the disappointing defeat, Lynch praised the application and performance of his players.

"I couldn't be more proud of them, the fight and the character they showed in the second half.

"CSKA are a very good side but I felt second half we made them look very ordinary.

"I thought we created enough chances in the game to win, but hugely disappointed with the goals we conceded and the manner in which we conceded them.

"If they had cut us open with moments of brilliance it would probably have been easier to swallow.

"First half I thought we just weren't at the races and we gave them too much respect, we stood off them and never passed it but second half I thought we looked like a totally different team."