This week we return to league action to face Peamount after a hectic few weeks with a lot of different cup games. With 6 league games to go are you aiming to pick up hopefully maximum points to give us a strong finish to the season, starting this weekend?
“That’s exactly the plan. We have to try and finish as strong as we can, we have to try and be as professional as we can. It’s been a disappointing couple of weeks but we have to be able to try and find that inner strength, put all of those disappointments behind us, be professional and be the best we can in the last 6 games of the league.”
Last time out against Peamount we were convincing 3-0 winners, so we’ll be hoping to produce something similar in this encounter, but overall what are you expecting from this game?
“Yeah, it’s always a tough game against them. You can never be fully confident that it’s a game that’s going to be easy. You know it’s going to be a battle and come down to fine margins again and I think it always comes down to whichever team scores the first goal. We’ll try and set up to be as hard to beat as possible but also have that extra little creative streak to try and be the ones that score that first goal.”
Peamount however, are a very strong side as we know. They’re still the reigning league champions, so what makes them most dangerous and do they have anything that other teams may not have that we need to be particularly aware of?
“I think as they head off now to their Champions League campaign I’m sure they’re going to have a squad of players that will be fighting for a starting spot next week in their game. I believe this is their last league game before they head off for their Champions League game so you’re going to have a whole team trying to work as hard as they can to get into that starting lineup. It’s an extra little dynamic that you have to try and work against but that’s football in this league. Any team is capable of beating anybody on the day and it’s one of those where we just hope it’s going to be our day.”
The group has obviously been working very hard this season as you’ve mentioned so many times. Are you hoping the performances and results over the next few weeks really show that to give the squad a boost going through the back end of the season after a tough few weeks?
“Yeah, I suppose it has been a tough few weeks and there has been an awful lot of hard work being put in by the players and it’s an awful lot of work that people don’t see. I am hoping that we can go and put a good run of results together because I think it’s the least that the players deserve from all the work that has been put in, but we always know it’s never going to be easy. No one hands you anything for free in this league so if you want something, you have to roll up your sleeves and be willing to fight for it.”
It’s been a demanding schedule recently, especially with the two periods of extra time played in the last few weeks, so is there anyone unavailable this weekend?
“No, not at this moment in time. I think it’s going to be a full squad to pick from. We’ll still assess everybody in training tomorrow night (Friday) and take it from there but thankfully, no, it’s a full squad ready to go.”