City waiting on Bennett fitness

LIKE Prague’s famous Astronomical Clock which, disappointingly, is undergoing renovation in the Old Town Square, Cork City’s stand-in manager Dave Hill is keeping his selection for tonight’s Uefa Cup game against Slavia Prague firmly under wraps.

And there will be final consultation by telephone with Damien Richardson today before the starting eleven is decided upon.

However, there was no hiding the main talking point in the Cork camp yesterday. Kafka is the usual literary name to drop around these parts, but this time our own Samuel Beckett is more appropriate, since the prevailing theme in the build-up might be called 'Waiting for Benno'.

Central defender Alan Bennett is being given every chance to prove his fitness for tonight's game, which would be his first since he pulled a hamstring in the second leg of the qualifying match against Djurgarden.

The player has had intensive treatment on the injury and was able to train over the last couple of days but, if he fails to make the starting line-up, Derek Coughlan is likely to retain his place beside captain Dan Murray.

The stakes are high for tonight's first round first leg tie with entrance into the group phase the glittering prize on offer to both sides.

However, Dave Hill, filling in for the indisposed Damien Richardson, is anxious that the players take things one game at a time.

"Subconsciously, I'm sure they're thinking about the chance of qualifying for the league phase," he says, "but they've got to get that out of their heads and concentrate on this match. It's a massive game for both clubs.

"Slavia want to get to the league stage. So do Cork City."

And he suggests that, whilst being understandably wary of their opponents, Cork will keep faith with the style of creative football which has seen them go top of the eircom League and negotiate two qualifying rounds of the Uefa Cup.

"We have persisted in trying to play our own style of football and we played well in the last two European games by being ourselves," he says. "If you try to change your own style of football, you could come unstuck. So we'll be looking to keep the football going that has been the basis for our success so far."

Confidence is clearly high in the Cork camp, after positive performances in Lithuania and Sweden.

Says Dan Murray: "We're not going away to make up the numbers, as was probably the case in the past. We're going away to win games or draw games to get a result. We believe that we can challenge any team in any game we go into now."

Though Hill has seen them in the flesh and videos have been carefully studied, Slavia Prague, currently struggling in their domestic league and badly hit by injuries and suspension for tonight's game, represent something of an enigma.

"We don't know many of their players and they will be in exactly the same position regarding us," says Murray. "So the first 15 minutes will tell what the game is going to be like and whether we can play as well as we can or whether we'll have to defend. But that's another thing we've done this season when we've been asked to defend in European games, we have, especially in the last 20 minutes away to Djurgarden. And that has taken the pressure off us in the home games."

But the pressure is definitely on now, and probably more so on Prague than Cork. But the City players are relishing the heady atmosphere, according to Murray. "We're in the Uefa Cup proper and that's massive step forward for Cork City.

"It feels different, it feels like more people are starting to look at us now. People know that you have to be a decent team to be in this part of the competition. So the pressures are different from the last couple of rounds.

"But the players expect that we're going to be able to do a job, and be in the tie for a home leg.

"When you look back say, in ten years' time, these are the games you're going to remember, the European nights. We've beaten some decent teams and I think we've put our mark on Europe as Cork City."

Unfortunately, Damien Richardson is unable to be with his team for another big European test but the players are not allowing his absence to detract from their focus even if, as Murray quips, Dave Hill "definitely doesn't have the same vocab" as the famously loquacious Cork boss.

"It's different if the manager is away," says Murray, "but Dave's come in, we're professional footballers and we have to get on with it. It's not an issue. Obviously, we'd like the gaffer to be here but we know what he wants us to do."

For his part, Hill admits that finding himself in the hot seat is a slightly uncomfortable position for someone who describes himself as a players' player and who is happy to be in the role of assistant manager. Having to step back from the players has been hard for him, he admits, but he points out that it's important than any decisions he makes over the course of the 90 minutes "can't be personal."

And there's always the possibility that, watching the action on TV back home, Damien Richardson might be moved to pick up the phone.

"I'm sure if I make mistake, he'll be on my case," Hill laughs. "But he sent me out with Phil Harrington, Declan Daly and Pat Morley so there'll be plenty of people to talk to. They've had plenty of European experience.

"Damien will be watching on TV but it's not the same. That's why I've been out to watch Slavia. But if there is a problem he sees that we don't see, I'm sure he'll get onto us."

Probable teams: Cork City: Devine, Horgan, Coughlan, Murray, Murphy, Gamble, O' Halloran, O' Callaghan, Kearney, Fenn, O' Flynn

Slavia Prague: Kozacik, Kovac, Latka, Zabonjnik, Zboncak, Krajcik, Suchy, Jarolim, Svento, Pitak, Pesir

Kick off: 7pm Irish time