Cork City’s assistant manager Dave Hill has pledged to maintain the same approach that has served them so well in Europe this season when they take on Slavia Prague in the UEFA Cup tomorrow night.
Hill will take charge of the Rebels in the absence of Damien Richardson after the Cork boss was is having treatment to a clot on the lung.
Despite Richardson’s absence, Hill is confident that Cork can continue their good run in Europe and said: “We will approach it exactly the same as our previous two games in Europe.”
“We will go out and play our own game. We have scored both times away from home so hopefully we can do that again and get an away goal but we don't want to concede.”
Slavia have had a mixed start to the season, winning one and losing two of their first five games. Cork on the other hand are in a rich vein of form but Hill refuses to read anything into the statistics.
“It is very early in their season,” he said. “But we cannot afford to be too complacent.”
Hill also believes that he and the players will able to cope with Richardson on the sidelines. “Damien is the manager and he will pick the side but during the game myself and (goalkeeping coach) Phil Harrington will be making the decisions.”
“Obviously Damien is a big loss but the players are all full-time professionals. They know, and Damien knows, the way they will take this is `we've got to get on with the job'.”
“Yes, his influence is a big loss but the players must turn that negative into a positive and get Damien the result that means the tie is still there for him in two weeks' time when, hopefully, he is back.”
