Cork City bid to keep on firing

Cork City manager John Caulfield is hopeful his strikers can build on recent good form in tonight’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash with Drogheda United at Turner’s Cross (7.45pm).

Mark O’Sullivan’s late strike gave City a 3-2 win over Sligo on Friday night — his second goal in as many games — while Karl Sheppard had initially put Caulfield’s men 2-0 up.

“As we all know, up front this year we haven’t been hitting the goals,” Caulfield said, “so it was good for Mark to get his second goal in a week and for Shepp to get two.

“We need our front guys to get 12, 15 goals to have any chance of challenging. It was great to see them both scoring on Friday night and I’m hoping that that’s going to be a kicking point for them.”

The victory against Sligo got City back on track after a loss to Dundalk and then a draw with Bohs. Maintaining momentum is the aim now.

“It was a difficult two weeks,” Caulfield said.

“I felt we deserved a point against Dundalk, a draw was probably the fair result against Bohs. We’re a point ahead of where we were this time last year, we’re second in the table, we’re trying to keep the pressure on. There was a buzz in the dressing room afterwards, and we’re hoping that we can build on that.

“I’d expect Drogheda to come down and sit in and try to hit us on the counter-attack. We need to be patient but I think if we’re bright and lively and keep the ball moving quick, like we did on Friday night [we’ll win].”

A win would put City, currently second, within four points of Dundalk, albeit with a game more played. However, if Shamrock Rovers overcome St Pat’s at Richmond Park — a game postponed last Friday due to a waterlogged pitch — the Hoops would go a point ahead of Caulfield’s side.