Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley insists he isn’t feeling any pressure as his side came from behind twice to defeat Waterford 3-2 to return to the summit in a gripping Premier Division title race.
The reigning champions registered their first win in four matches to regain top spot at Tallaght Stadium, for 24 hours at least.
With Bohemians’ last-gasp win over Drogheda and St Pat’s getting the better of the Hoops last week to close the gap, substitute John McGovern’s double inside five minutes eased some recent jitters while also ending Waterford’s 13-game unbeaten streak.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport’s Tony O’Donoghue after the game, Bradley was asked if he was feeling the pressure after recent dropped points sparked a title race when it appeared to be nothing more than a procession for the holders.
“This isn’t pressure,” he insisted. “I have genuinely felt pressure, real-life pressure. This is enjoyment, this is fun.
“We all want to win. What any other team does is irrelevant to us. It always has been. Our biggest challenge is us. If we do our business, it’s irrelevant what anyone else does. If we don’t do our business, other people become irrelevant.”
John McGovern celebrates making it 3-2 against Waterford
Bradley, seeking a sixth title as Rovers manager, paid tribute to his players as they look to continue domestic dominance.
“It’s incredible character from the players,” he said. “I said it a few weeks ago, I don’t understand how people can question the character of this group.
“You don’t stay at the top of the mountain if you don’t have character. You need quality, but you need character, and this group has that in bucket loads.”
Bradley’s opposite number, Graham Coughlan, has turned Waterford’s fortunes completely around since taking over from Jon Daly in early May.
He expressed some disappointment that his side could not see out a game in which they led twice – but admitted that Rovers’ resilience is what makes them such worthy champions.
“Naturally you’re disappointed,” Coughlan told RTÉ Sport. “We’ve been unbeaten in three months. The last team to beat us was actually Rovers at home.
“The run the lads have gone on, what the lads have done for us has been absolutely unbelievable. The resilience, the character to get back in the game tonight. To go ahead one-nil, and then to go back ahead 2-1.
“We’re obviously naturally disappointed, Tony. It’s one of those things. We should’ve been better in certain areas, in certain aspects of our play, but I thought our game plan our tactics, our setup, I thought had had Rovers in trouble.
“But that’s what good teams do, and that’s where the champions and everybody will see that.
“Everybody will know that. Good players come off the bench and win games. Good teams find a way, and fair play to them. Look, you have to take your hat off to them.”