Institute beat PSNI 4-0 at the Riverside when the sides met on September 10, but Kevin Deery feels this weekend will be very different.

The Belfast team travel to Drumahoe on Saturday knowing that three points will bring them level with ‘Stute in the table.

They are the greatest threats to manager Deery’s squad finishing outside of a promotion play-off spot, with the Blues currently sitting in third position.

Victory will put some breathing space between themselves and fourth placed PSNI but the local side know that it won’t be an easy task, as they fell 1-0 to their opponents at Newforge Lane when the two last met.

With four game remaining, ‘Stute have to play PSNI both this weekend and again in a fortnight’s time in a reorganised game following a postponement when the sides were due to meet on March 4.

As well as that, Deery’s team must travel to Ballyclare Comrades on the last day of the season, the team who currently sit one point above them in second place.

Comrades did ‘Stute no favours last weekend when they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of PSNI, and with the Drumahoe squad throwing away a 2-0 lead against champions Warrenpoint Town, the gap between third and fourth closed again.

Goals from Niall Grace and Stephen Curry put the visitors in control when they travelled to Milltown five days ago, but with the Town needing just a point to seal the league title they battled back to go in level at the break, before scoring the winner mid-way through the second half.

With PSNI coming in on a high of beating Ballyclare, the ‘Stute boss knows that they will be very confident that they can get a win in Drumahoe.

“PSNI are arguably the team in the best form since Christmas in the league. We’re under no illusions it’s going to be a tough game,” admitted Deery.

“They’ve turned out a great number of points in the last few months. It’s up to us when we’re in our own back yard to go out and show how much it means to us. I think that’s the key thing, that you have to be willing to show that.”

He continued: “Warrenpoint did it to us at the weekend. We dominated the early stages and went two up. They could have taken a point but they showed what it meant to them to win their home game and win the league. We’re fairly similar in a way. We really have to go and show what it means to us to win this match.

“We’re at home this week and we need to put everything on the line to go and win a game. It’s as simple as that. We have to win the match and set ourselves up.”

A victory for the Blues would put six between them and their opponents with three games to go – one of which will again be against PSNI – and Deery feels his players have what it takes to come out on the right end of the result.

“I think our performances have been really, really good to be honest. We’ve been scoring a lot of goals. Unfortunately, we met a good team in Warrenpoint at the weekend,” he explained.

“I’m sure they will speak highly of ourselves as well because they don’t face opposition like us often so we have to take confidence out of what we did really well and try to do that for a longer period against PSNI and I think it will be good enough. It’s all down to showing this week what it means to the players and prove we can take our opportunity at home.”

With ‘Stute having the upper hand, the manager insists that his team will be going all out for the win, rather than trying to protect the lead that they have.

“I’ve never done it. We’ve played some big opposition like Linfield and Crusaders and we never sit back because that’s not the way that I am,” stated Deery.

“I think there’s very fine margins in this country in terms of the standard of players. I don’t think tactically you’re going to get a whole lot of things wrong. It’s all about not making mistakes, showing a bit of quality, and taking your chances. That is what it boils down to.

“We don’t want to complicate it too much. We’re ready to go and given PSNI all we have. We’re more than capable of winning the match and that’s what we’re setting out to do,” he added.

As the league enters its final month, Deery says it is now time for his players to stand up and be counted in the big games.

“Everybody has to step up. I’m sure we’ll be asked different questions on Saturday and PSNI could throw something up that we’re not expecting but it’s a test for the players. It’s key for us this week. You don’t want to get too caught up. Whatever happens you have to adapt and come out the right end of a result and that’s what we’re setting out to do,” explained the manager.

“We’ll get them in tonight and get a good bit of work done and plan for Saturday and look forward to the match. You have to look forward to these things. There’s a lot more serious stuff going on than what we’re setting out to do.”

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