Drogheda United star explains why 'stupid' assumption would only pile on the pressure

Drogheda United host Galway United at Weavers Park on Monday night in a big League of Ireland clash for both

Ryan Brennan claims it would be 'stupid' to think that Drogheda United can reel in the teams above them.

But the Drogs stalwart is backing Kevin Doherty’s never-say-die battlers to play their way out of trouble - whether that’s in the playoffs or not.

Second-from-bottom, they pulled off a big 1-0 win away to next best Bohemians on Friday, closing the gap between the sides to five points with six games to go Bohs still have a game in hand, so Drogheda are more likely to contest that promotion-relegation playoff having pulled four points clear of bottom side Dundalk.

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And hosting Galway United tonight, Brennan said: “We would be stupid to think we’re going to catch anyone. We’ll do our talking on the pitch and take it one game at a time and try to grind as many points as we can and see where it takes us.

“We shouldn’t put that pressure on ourselves to be catching this team or that team. There are a lot of difficult games left and we cannot be disrespecting anyone. But if we work hard and do well like we did on Friday, we’ll pick up more points than we lose.

“It's down to having a tight squad and players who have an attitude to work hard for each other. It’s not easy when you have a lot of boys coming and going in the window. But you try to build yourself on a core of hard work and then the relationships come after that.”

Drogheda have an FAI Cup semi-final against Wexford to look forward to, with the winners meeting either Bohemians or Derry City in the showpiece at Aviva Stadium. But Brennan insists Drogheda’s league plight is still so precarious that nobody is daydreaming about the possibilities in the cup.

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“We have parked the Cup,” said the midfielder. “Everyone thinks we’re in the Aviva already, but that’s not the case. You can hear the outside noise, but we’re not going to disrespect Wexford. We have not disrespected anyone this year, we’re in no position to do that. We’ll take the semi-final when it comes (October 6) but for now the most important game is tonight.”

And Brennan knows that Galway will be formidable opponents having rocked league leaders Shelbourne 1-0 on Friday to keep their European hopes alive. Jimmy Keohane scored a second-minute thunderbolt to put the Tribesmen on the path to glory - and John Caulfield’s men could have won by more at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Brennan, 32, said: “They’re a brilliant side, solid and organised with a lot of big lads. They are very fit and very physical and do the dirty side of the game well. That's not disrespecting them, they are also very good in wide areas and have a lot of pace. We certainly won’t be disrespecting them.”

Brennan added: “Credit for coming up from the First Division and for what they have achieved. No qualms about it, we’ll be up for a tough game tonight. I'm sure the place will be packed out again. It should be a tasty spectacle. We’re getting down to the back end of the league campaign and we need every fan.

“You feed off them on the pitch and it gives you that extra bit. Being a local lad from the town as well, I know a lot of lads who come and watch us, friends and family too. In periods of success and pain they have stuck by us.”

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