City are still in the title fight
Six points behind Dundalk at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, City are without a win in four games in all competitions. They are seeking to avoid three winless matches on the trot in the league for the first time, and Caulfield is optimistic.
“It was disappointing, but you just move on,” he said.
“The thing about this league is that you win a few games and everyone goes over the top and says how great you are.
“When you lose a few or draw a few, they say how bad you are, but the beauty of this league is that you can bounce back quickly.
“It’s a situation where everyone has done well all season, I think at the start, people were just hoping that we’d be competitive. Then, you look at Dundalk, they’ve been up there for the last three seasons and Stephen has done fantastically well with them.”
Recent draws against Bray Wanderers and Athlone Town in the league have allowed St Pat’s to move clear but Caulfield is reluctant to concede defeat just yet.
“We break it down into the three sections of the league. We had 24 points in the first section, 22 in the second section and we’ve eight out of 12 in the third.
“It’s no different when you’re winning, you have to keep your feet on the ground and not get carried away. At the moment, there’s no doubt about it, it’s a tricky situation, tied in with the cup games. It hasn’t been pleasant.
“A lot of people think it could define the league but there could also be a lot of changes in the remaining games. Our support has been great all year and we’re all calling on them to come out and get behind us again.”
Should City manage to achieve a third league win of the season against Rovers — they won 3-0 at the Cross already and 2-0 at Tallaght Stadium — then reigning champions St Patrick’s Athletic could do them a favour by taking points off Dundalk at Richmond Park.
Back in April, Dundalk were 2-1 winners when they went to Inchicore and were they to repeat that feat, it would put further pressure on City, who cannot afford any more slip-ups. Pat’s stand on 49 points, five off City and 11 behind Dundalk while Shamrock Rovers are in fourth on 47 points, 11 clear of Sligo Rovers.
Sligo travel to face Derry City, who are a point behind them, while bottom side Athlone will look to build on the draw with City as they travel to take on seventh-placed Drogheda United.
UCD host Limerick and Bohemians welcome Bray Wanderers in the other two ties.
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