ROBERTO LOPES said that there is comfort for Shamrock Rovers in the familiarity of a title run-in.
The Hoops are outsiders this season as they look to make it a record breaking five league titles in a row.
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Tonight they face St Patrick’s Athletic at Tallaght Stadium trailing leaders Shelbourne by four points but having played a game more, with Derry City also ahead of them.
It is a new situation to be in for Rovers to be doing the chasing rather than being chased. But Lopes reckons having been in run-ins so often should stand to the side now.
He said: “We always say we don’t have to win the league in March, you can’t win the league in March or April or May.
“It’s a long game, it’s about being in the hunt for the last six or seven games and that’s when it really looks to take shape, when the pressure is on and when the nerves kick in.
“We definitely have the experience in this group, we’ve been here before, we know what it takes to get it over the line and have done in previous years.
“It’s not a time to panic, it’s a time to really focus on the basics and on what we’ve done over the last few years and take it one game at a time, and play the game for what it is.
“Don’t look at other results or too far ahead because you can’t control that, all we can control is our performance.
“If our performance is good, we generally get the three points. That experience, you can’t buy it.
“We’re in a good position now, we know we probably have to win all our games which is difficult enough in this league.
“But the fact that we’re in the hunt, it gives us something to strive for because I suppose if we get three points more, it might put a bit of pressure on the other teams.”
The difference this year though is that the Hoops have been top at this stage in each of the last four seasons while this time they are doing the chasing.
But Lopes says that while it may change things outside, what Rovers need to do in games remains the same.
He continued ““There are differences but there are loads of similarities as well.
“It doesn’t change, the most important thing is the finish line and where you are at the end of it.
“We know we have to focus on ourselves, try and just catch the teams ahead of us.
“We know we’re looking for favours but I suppose if we pick up three points here, it puts pressure on others to do their jobs and if they do that themselves, it’s on to next week.
“That’s just the mentality you have to have, one game at a time, there is obviously a hunger there. But I suppose there is very little room for error.
“Even in previous years you might have the cushion but even then it’s hard to get that one game to win to get you over the line.
“There is probably an added pressure this time where you know one loss will give the other team confidence and probably take it away from you, but we know that a win will really put pressure on.
“It’s about how calm can you be in them moments and usually you’ve been in a good position in the last six or seven games.
“We still are in a good position but it’s just different to the last three or four years.”
