Caulfield calls for City focus
City, only trailing SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders Dundalk on goal difference, will be featured for the first time since beating Derry City in their second game of the season. While the trip to Bohemians next week is also live, Caulfield is keen to impress on his side the importance of focusing.
“What we’ve been trying to do in training this week is try to take on board that it is on tv and that’s going to give UCD a lift and an extra incentive,” he said. “We just have to be careful, from our own point of view, just prepare for the game as normal and keep our feet on the ground.
“We’ve gone into a crucial part of the season where we need to pick up full points and hang in there because we all know that there are big ones coming down the line. If you lost a few points and drop down, then you’re out of the running.
“Hopefully that it’s on tv will give us a lift, it’s funny that, having not been on much this season, we’re on at home this week and again away next week. It shows how far we’ve come.”
UCD have often caused problems for City in the past, including during Caulfield’s time as a player. While captain John Dunleavy is suspended and Gearóid Morrissey remains sidelined with an ankle injury and Darren Murphy has been ruled out for the season after dislocating a shoulder, Caulfield knows victory is in his side’s hands if they apply themselves.
“Historically UCD have been a bogey side, even going back to my own time playing, we dreaded it, whatever it was we had a poor record against them,” he said.
“If we do what we’ve done all along, keep up the good habits, we’ll be okay. It’s when you stop doing that that you get into trouble.”
