Caulfield keen to ensure players don't get carried away

John Caulfield will return to the dugout for this Friday’s Munster Derby against an in form Limerick side who have won the last two games scoring seven goals.

The Rebel Army are now unbeaten in their past twelve league games and Caulfield is determined not to get carried away with his sides recent good form.

“The one thing I have learned is that you live from week to week, you don’t get carried away. I said last week that Sligo would be difficult with a new manager coming in to give them a lift and they’d defend well. It took us a while to break them down. We deserved our three points.”

Attention now turns to face Martin Russell’s Limerick who has played well of late defeating Sligo Rovers and Bohemians in recent weeks. City has defeated both of these teams as well in their past two games.

“This week we play Limerick who everybody said were relegated and now all of a sudden they are after two wins in a row and have started to turn their season around and have given themselves real optimism to see if they can get off the bottom of the table.

“We are in form and they are coming down to us in form so they’ll defend deeply and try get us on the counter attack. We need to be patient and wait for the chance.

“They have drawn with Rovers and Dundalk so they have been an awkward side. It’s easier for the teams in the bottom half to raise their games for us as they don’t have the same complacency as the top teams.

“It showed their determination last week to come back and win the game.”

This season Cork City is in a much better position in comparison to last season as they have more clean sheets and points. This Caulfield attributes to a defence that have only conceded six goals in the past twelve games.

“It is because to be fair we had 16 clean sheets last season and we have 13 now. Defensively we have been strong and we have five points more than last season. We have developed into a more passing side in recent months.”

As usual the treatment table is occupied ahead of the clash with Caulfield relived to see Kevin O’Connor come out of the Sligo Rovers game much better than expected while other players edge ever closer to resuming first team duties.

“Kevin O’Connor at the weekend, we thought he’d be out for six to eight weeks but he is going for a referral today and it’s not as bad as first expected. He might be out for Friday and could miss the weekend but he won’t be out long term.  Gavin Holohan is long term. John Kavanagh is back training but Friday should be too soon. He’s very close. Darren is close to light training at the moment. Friday is too soon and Monday is possibly as well.”

As is now common at every Cork City press conference the topic of Billy Dennehy is mentioned by some member of the media and the answer given by Caulfield as to will the Tralee native be involved with the team this week is a very blunt “No” before quickly moving on to another topic.

Last night Soccer Republic ran a profile on City this season especially since the Dundalk game in April that they lost 2-1. According to the manager every player working hard is important to the success of the team he said at the weekly press conference in Bishopstown Stadium today.

“I suppose it is. I don’t look at it that way. I only look at it week on week. If we can keep guys training hard and focused then you have a chance. There is a real good attitude and will to win. We had setbacks last year, we had a few this year but we have bounced back.”

Last week John Caulfield watched the game from the VIP area in the Showground’s as a result of getting sent off against Dundalk in July and he is looking forward to returning to the dugout. He didn’t notice much difference with being in the stand but he did admit he had to be a bit quieter in the stand in comparison to the dugout owing to the amount of people around.

“A lot of the work we do is done during the week. Maybe at half time you might make a change or two but there wasn’t a huge difference as the lads on the bench are hugely capable of making the necessary changes. As a manager you can’t be yourself in the stand as there is so many people around you.”

Since exiting Europe in July Cork City have shown a new attacking side to their game and currently show no signs of a European hangover that has affected numerous teams over the years.

“I suppose what you learn is that if you don’t retain the ball you’ll tire yourself and you won’t be able to dominate matches. Dundalk is a great team along with Pats and Rovers. Everybody is expecting them to win it but we will push them. We are a good side and we are still there and that’s not by chance. We have a good honesty and character about our team.”