No goals but Hallgrimsson says Boyz showed more cohesion

Although Jamaica were left frustrated after their 0-0 draw with Trinidad and Tobago last night, head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson felt that they worked more as a unit and was pleased with the progress of the younger players as they continued to audition for future call-ups.

Hallgrimsson's first game at the National Stadium had moments but were ultimately left without a win as the Reggae Boyz failed to capitalise on the sustained pressure that they put the Soca Warriors under especially in the second half.

Dujuan Richards, who made his first senior start, had moments where he tested the Trinidadian defence as well as others who provided everything except the finishing product.

But Hallgrimsson was pleased with what the younger core displayed not only last night but during the two-game series with some on the radar for more responsibilities starting with Jamaica's Concacaf Nations League tilt against Mexico on March 26. He said he felt that compared to their 1-0 defeat in Montego Bay on Saturday, they were more together as a group in both phases of the game.

"We played more as a unit, more as a team both when we were attacking and defending. We had moments where we should have done better with the last pass, with the cross. We created a lot more good openings. But I am not going to count players here. We will analyse both of the games. Some players had really good performances," Hallgrimsson said after the game.

Hallgrimsson addressed the lack of a final product as not because of an absence of quality but the strong desire of the youngsters to impress in their first game at "The Office".

"It is probably more stress than quality. Some players are playing their first national team match in the National Stadium, the stadium where they have wanted to play in all their lives to play in front of a crowd. It was more stress than lack of quality," Hallgrimsson said.

He has not taken his eyes off the bigger goal of the two-game series which is to assess players that could be part of the immediate and long-term future for Hallgrimsson.

"To give someone their first national team game and they performed, pleased me as a lot. Because we are looking for players for the Gold Cup, for the Mexico match, to see if someone here will stake a claim in these squads," Hallgrimsson said.