Rico adamant title race not over as City head into home straight
The City manager is adamant the league race is not over and feels that if his side pick up three more points against Longford Town tonight (live TG4 7:45), it will keep the pressure on title favourites, Shelbourne and Derry City.
City lie in second place on 43 points, five behind leaders Shels (who have a game in hand on City) and two points ahead of Derry City, who have four games in hand on Cork.
City’s games are: Longford (h), Bray (a), Sligo (h), Waterford (h), St Pat’s (a), Shels (h) and Derry (a).
The next five fixtures could see City bag all 15 points on offer and put them clearly in the running to retain their league title. However, Richardson is hugely disappointed that his side has been written off and says City will fight to the very last minute in the last game of the season against Derry in the Brandywell on November 17th.
“I’m a little bit surprised at the naivety of a few people who seem to have dismissed our title hopes at this early stage,” slammed Richardson yesterday. “We’re reaching the most important stage of the season, but there’s a little naivety or lack of appreciation in football journalism in Dublin. It irks me sometimes that people are quite dismissive. And even to hear local people say that City has no chance is quite annoying. ”
Richardson points to the heavy schedule Derry face and Shels’ daunting end-of-season program as evidence to accentuate City’s league chances.
Richardson added: “I was speaking to Pat Fenlon recently and he said they have five games away from home and have to play all of the top six teams; Derry City have got to play Drogheda three times in what is a hugely congested fixture list for the Candystripes.
“We’re playing well and have been playing well for a long time, maybe not getting the recognition because we haven’t turned very good performances into wins. We’ve been playing very well but if we can continue to play well and to our potential we’re still the best team in the country.”
City are on a high after their exciting 6-0 win over Bray seven days ago, but will be without hat-trick hero Roy O’Donovan. He misses the Longford match, having accumulated four yellow cards.
Richardson hinted that John O’Flynn is set for a recall, having being rested last week, while Admir Softic will start again in midfield where he impressed against Bray. However Richardson knows that his side faces a tough task against Longford, a notoriously defensive side when they arrive on Leeside.
Meanwhile, Derry City host Bohemians at the Brandywell. Derry will field a near full team, but it is believed that Paddy McCourt is struggling and may miss the game.
Bohs are still in the market for a new manager after the departure of Gareth Farrelly. Jim Duffy is reported to have turned down the post, but Bohs’ directors have announced that a number of candidates are still in the frame.
The Candystripes have recorded two victories against Bohemians already this season and Derry will be looking to complete the set tonight.
Shelbourne travel to the RSC to face a Waterford side that has won two and drawn one of their four games, but Pat Fenlon’s men will be expected to pick up all three points here.
In the other Premier Division fixtures, St Pat’s host Drogheda at Richmond Park, while Bray face another tough away encounter, this time at UCD.
In the eircom League First Division Athlone Town welcome Cobh Ramblers to St Mel’s Park, Shamrock Rovers take on Galway United while Monaghan United face Limerick City at Century Homes Park (8pm).
All other games have a 7:45pm kick off time.
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