Caulfield calls on fans to make a difference for ‘most difficult game’ at UCD

Tonight’s opponents UCD may be second from bottom in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, but Cork City manager John Caulfield is wary of taking anything for granted.

With three games left, City are level on points with Dundalk at the top of the table, although the Louth side do have a match less played. A trip to Oriel Park is the final game of the season, though to ensure that his side are still in contention by then, Caulfield is keen that the task at hand is focused upon.

“This is probably our most difficult game out of the last 10,” he said.

“People might laugh at that, but look at our form since the Dundalk match. We’ve taken 20 points from 24 and the two teams we drew against were Bray and Athlone, two of the bottom three teams.

“If it gets to the last game against Dundalk, we’ll have no need to rise the voice; we’ll have no need to rise the voice for the last home game against Bohemians. This is the biggest game because everybody assumes it’s just going to be three points.

“UCD have been struggling for a while but they’re still second last, not last. They can still survive. Our two games against them this year were 1-0 away and at home we were a goal down after seven minutes. We got a penalty to come back into it and then got a late winner.

“Never in my history do I remember going up to UCD and smoking my cigar after 30 minutes of any match.”

Having a large support at the game could be key, in Caulfield’s view.

“Earlier in the season, we went there and we had about 300 people with us, which was great,” he said.

“We have a lot of support in Dublin but the fear is that people might be looking ahead, ‘I won’t go here, I’ll hold myself for another match’, that can happen.

“I’d encourage anyone that’s on a half-day or can get off work, and all our fans in Dublin, to come out. You saw against Limerick, we had about 800 fans there and it created a great atmosphere and gave everyone a huge lift.

“The support all year has been fantastic and they realise how close we are and how well we’ve done. Hopefully, they’ll come out in big numbers.”

Dundalk, who are not leaders on their own for the first time since late May, will be favourites as they travel to take on bottom side Athlone Town, with their game in hand against Shamrock Rovers on Monday.

Rovers, in fourth, can still theoretically catch St Patrick’s Athletic, but there is no room for error on their part. They are at home to Bray Wanderers, while Pat’s go to Drogheda United. In the other games, Bohemians host Sligo Rovers and Derry City take on Limerick.