'We’ve been the best team over 30 games – now finish it over 36': Damien Duff narrows in on title

STRONG FINISH: Damien Duff is preaching a back-to-basics approach if his Shelbourne side are to complete the campaign with a first title since 2006. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Damien Duff is preaching a back-to-basics approach if his Shelbourne side are to complete the campaign with a first title since 2006.

A solitary win in the last six isn’t title form but they remain top ahead of in-form Sligo Rovers arriving at Tolka Park.

It’s one of four games Shels have at home on the six-match run-in, followed by St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday.

“We’ve been the best team in the country over 30 games – now it’s time to finish the job and be the best over 36,” stressed the Ireland legend, acknowledging the tweaks required from last week’s loss away to Galway United.

“I have no doubt in my mind that these players have what it takes.

“We need to get back to simplicity. Teams that play simple football are usually very successful.

“If you can be the best at that, you can go far. The last two weeks haven’t changed that.

“The pressure our boys are feeling is new to them but they’ve been at the top for virtually the entire season, and have handled it really well. It’s a wonderful and amazing place to be. The most important thing now is staying there.” 

Sligo chief John Russell said: “Our next two games are against the top two so it'll be tough but you've got to enjoy and embrace these challenges. We're still in with a shout of finishing in a European spot with five games to go and that tells you how well we've done this year."

Derry City will reach the summit if they win and Shels lose but they travel to face a Drogheda United side steadily rising from relegation trouble.

“Nobody’s getting ahead of themselves and this is where the experience we have in the dressing room can make a difference,” declared Derry manager Ruaidhrí Higgins.

Meanwhile, Stephen Bradley had hit out the Shamrock Rovers boo-boys, adamant his five-in-row chasing Hoops deserve respect.

What appeared to be a chase to salvage merely a European place has accelerated into a late title charge, as they’d have four wins on the trot only for an absurdly harsh penalty decision at Derry City last Friday.

“99% of our fans are incredible and have been - the South Stand is incredible - but a few people in the West Stand need to be very careful,” cautioned Rovers boss Bradley about some grumbles ahead of hosting St Pat’s Athletic on Friday.

“They should maybe show a little bit more respect to these players and what they’ve done and how they’ve done it.

“The booing of our players at half time or during the game is not welcome - we don’t want it. These players have a lot more credit in the bank than that. Success can make people arrogant and we can’t become arrogant.

“Some are frustrated when we win, lose or draw - and I understand that. We’re not looking for the few who want to come and boo if we play a backwards pass.

“If fans want to see a different type of football, Tallaght isn’t the place to go. That’s ok, that’s their opinion, but they won’t be seeing that in Tallaght.

“We’ve no divine right to show up and win any game. Winning is hard but these players have made it look easy for a long time.” 

It’s a meeting of two teams in red hot form, despite the Saints sitting in seventh place.

“The six European games were of really good quality and we've managed to translate that into our league form by taking 13 points from a possible 15,” said Stephen Kenny, making his first club comeback to Tallaght Stadium since leaving Dundalk in 2018.

“I think, for a team that was struggling to score goals, we've now got goals coming from different areas. We'll need that threat and to be at our best"

Nothing less than victory for rock-bottom Dundalk will do if they’re to revive their survival mission. Visitors Bohemians have lost their last two and can’t afford to be distracted by next Friday’s FAI Cup semi-final against Derry or they’ll drop deeper towards swapping places with Drogheda in the playoff berth.