Richardson: Why mind matters in title climax

AS if a Munster derby needed any extra spice, tonight’s eircom League clash between Waterford United and Cork City at the RSC (7.30pm) offers a striking contrast in fortunes.

The home side is desperate for another big win in its relegation battle, but the visitors are grimly determined not to have their title ambitions blown off track.

"I know that Waterford will be up for this game," says City boss Damien Richardson. "They had a great win (over Derry) last week and now they're playing the best team in the league. It's their cup final now. And we've got be able to play as if it's a cup final for us."

While Cork and Derry remain on collision course at the top with Shels still hoping to capitalise on any crash resurgent Waterford are still locked in a battle for survival which could see any two clubs out of five making the dreaded drop. And when the stakes are this high, attitude is almost as important as ability.

Says Damien Richardson: "There's no doubt that the psychology of sport is hugely important which is why we have taken on George Tracey, who is a sports psychologist, over the last couple of months.

"I'm a great believer in that aspect of the game and I work with the players a lot in that regard but I felt that I had to bring in an expert.

"My philosophy is that I try to treat the players as individuals, trying to help them achieve their potential. I can do that in a physical and tactical sense and, to a small degree, in a mental sense. But George is an expert, someone who makes a living at this.

"When it gets to this stage of the season, and the higher up the ladder you go, the mental side is of vital importance.

"At the very top level there is very little difference in technique and quality between players, but the same teams keep winning things. There is something else that sets them apart and it has to be their mental state. Concentration is the word I use."

Richardson reckons he saw the fruits of this approach in the vital comeback victory over Bohemians last Monday.

"What really pleased me greatly is we actually took the game to Bohemians after a difficult start. Bohemians are a good side but on Monday they saw a very good side.

"And the difference really was that the concentration levels from our lads were so high. When the game hit the crucial period, we were used to it. You could see the experience of all the big games we've had this season coming into play.

"Shelbourne are a very experienced team. Derry City have a lot of very experienced players. We didn't have that, until this season in particular. We've a young team in comparison to the two other title contenders so, to bridge that gap, raising their concentration levels and maintaining them was a priority for me.

"I realised I had to bring in someone who's expert.

"The closer you get to what you're looking for, the smaller and more important each step becomes."

For tonight's game, Waterford United manager Brendan Rea is likely to field the same team which inflicted that shock defeat on Derry, while Richardson will be without the injured John O' Flynn and the suspended Denis Behan.

Rea admits that, having taken ten points from a possible 15, he would be disappointed if Waterford were now pulled back into the relegation play-offs.

"A few weeks ago, we certainly would have taken it but everyone has pulled together and we've worked hard and are in a position where we aren't relying on anyone else. I said all along the players were good enough.

"Our results are now proving it."

Adding a juicy sub-text to tonight's game is the fact former Cork boss Pat Dolan is now an advisor to Rea at Waterford.

But Richardson insists this is not an issue.

"I know that the important people tonight are the players.

"If a manager ever thinks he is more important than his players then he is in the wrong business."

Meanwhile, Derry City will be without Kevin Derry for their game away to Bray Wanderers, as a distracting row rumbles on between the club and League over the date for the Candystripes' penultimate game of the season at home to St Pats.

To facilitate RTE the League has rescheduled the game originally set for Friday November 11 to Sunday, November 13 at 2.45pm. However, Derry are unhappy about the move, and it's expected FAI chief John Delaney will seek a meeting with Derry officials to emphasise the game must go ahead on the new date.

Derry manager Stephen Kenny has made his frustration known but adds: "I'm not concerned about it yet because first of all we've got to make sure that we still have something to play for by beating Bray."

Elsewhere tonight, Shelbourne six points off the pace are away to Drogheda, Bohs are at home to Longford and St Pat's entertain Shamrock Rovers in a Dublin relegation derby. On Saturday, strugglers Finn Harps and UCD face up at Finn Park.