Andy Myler wants UCD to carry on believing when they take a ‘free shot’ at champions Shamrock Rovers tonight.
It took 15 attempts but the bottom-of-the-table Students finally recorded their first win of the season last week.
And the fact it was away to their fellow relegation rivals Finn Harps was all the sweeter for Myler and his players.
They have closed to within two points of Ollie Horgan’s men as the race to beat the automatic drop intensifies.
But College were brought back down to earth with a bang with confirmation on Tuesday that star striker Colm Whelan ruptured his cruciate ligament.
And that has scuppered a move this summer with clubs in England lining up for his signature, while tonight’s opponents Rovers were also linked.
UCD boss Myler - a former Hoops striker - knows his team have been written off since the outset this season.
But he insists his players have loads to fight for after last Friday’s morale-boosting win in Donegal.
Ahead of tonight’s Belfield clash, he said: “It was good to get the monkey off the back. At the start of the year, you don’t expect it to run that long without a win.
“I’m not sure any of the players or coaches would have gone that long without a win. After two or three games, you’re thinking ‘ah, we’ll get one soon’.
“But then it’s going on for weeks and weeks and there’s a little bit of pressure that goes with that.
“But it was brilliant to put it to bed up there as those games are massive. The ones against the teams around us will ultimately decide who ends up where.
“It’s probably not the games against Rovers where teams at this end of the table are expected to pick up loads of points.”
Myler continued: “I think the players knew it would turn eventually and, in fairness, we haven’t been too down on ourselves or getting worried about it.
“Sometimes players tighten up and stop playing with any freedom but that didn’t happen.
“In recent weeks we actually started scoring more goals and creating more chances. It was probably the coaching staff getting worried about it more than the players.”
But Myler appreciates it will be a considerable task against his former club and the side that his family all support.
“They are a club that I’ll always hold close to my heart and the family have all been fans for years,” he said.
“They’re a top club and it’s always good to test yourselves against them and see exactly where you’re at.
“It’s a massive challenge. We had them on the first day of the season and started off quite well and created a few chances.
“But we lost 3-0 and once you go behind against Rovers, they are so good in possession that it can feel like you are chasing the ball for 90-minutes.
“We have to try and keep possession ourselves and limit their time on the ball as much as we can.
“We’re not expected to win it and in some ways, games like these are a bit of a free shot but we also have to be careful as there are two ways a free shot can go.
“You can ride your luck too much and just get done, or it can give you the freedom to keep the football and play and we’re hoping for the latter. “
Harvey O’Brien hasn’t played this year due to an ankle injury he sustained in pre-season and remains out, along with Whelan whose season is now over.
Lee Grace (groin) is making progress but remains a doubt for Shamrock Rovers who stretched their lead at the top-of-the-table to four points with Friday’s narrow home win over Derry City.
