Liam Buckley says Cork City must "scratch out" points wherever they can to move out of relegation danger, starting tonight against Drogheda United at Turner's Cross.
But City's director of football - who will head an interim management team until the end of the season - is loath to describe the clash with the Boynesiders as a six-pointer, although Cork are two points behind Drogheda and in the relegation play-off berth.
"I don't want to sound boring but there's no point in beating Drogheda when you then go on and lose against Pat's or Bohs or whoever else," said Buckley.
READ MORE: Cork City announce Liam Buckley and interim team to remain in situ for rest of the season
"We have to take every game on its merits - whether that's Drogheda or Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table, we will give them both 100% respect and will try to eke out a result somehow."
City were in freefall when Colin Healy tendered his resignation but, after six defeats on the spin, the team won their next four games.
Now they are looking to avoid a third defeat in succession, after losses either side of the mid-season break to Dundalk and Derry City.
"There's definitely been signs of improvement. I feel results will come with performances," stressed Buckley.
"I do see us getting better and that as the season goes on we'll pick up more points.
"Every game will be critical to us - we have to scratch out a point here, a point there, three points where we can.
"If we can scratch out points against them all...we're at the bottom end of the table and there's no hiding away from that, so we have got to push ourselves up.
"Do I see ourselves doing that? Yes, I do, with the players and the guts and effort they've put in over recent weeks, we'll see how we go."
