Kee starts ‘Special One’s’ mind games

Kee still believes the Belfast men are in the driving seat in terms of winning the Championship One title, just like the ‘Special One’ maintains that Manchester City are favourites for the Barclays Premier League.

Dundela – like Man City – have a few games in hand over the leaders, and although Kee concedes that having the points in the bag is more important, he still feels that Mark Snodden’s side are favourites.

“In fairness, they still do hold the upper hand. They have the games in hand, and the table is false if they get the points,” stated Kee.

“However, in saying that, you would take having the points all day long.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen in this league – for instance, would you have predicted Dergview to have beaten Bangor 5-0 last Saturday? But this is the nature of the Championship.

“You have to be prepared for each and every game, be it Coagh United at the bottom end or Dundela at the top, then you have a chance of getting egg on our face.

“We saw it ourselves a few weeks ago against Coagh, so we need to know that every week you have to be at your best.

“Points are essential at this time of the season and going into the last seven games, which is 21 points, which is quite a lot, we just have to take the old clichéd approach and take each game as it comes and see where it takes us.

“At the minute, we are deservedly on top, we have got some momentum, the players have earned that because they have worked extremely hard.

“There’s a good committed group in the dressing room at the minute, and long may that continue.”

Although Kee seems to be putting all the pressure back on the East Belfast outfit, he’s still very aware that the likes of Carrick Rangers and Bangor aren’t out of the title race either.

“Dundela are a very proud club, who always do well at this level, but how do they react from Saturday’s defeat?” he added.

“To come to Drumahoe and get beat 4-0, they’ll have to dust themselves down and get on with it, but we can only worry about ourselves – and if we are serious about trying to finish in the top two, then you have to beat the teams in and around you and that’s what we managed to do on Saturday.

“However, in my opinion, Dundela are still the favourites.

“Carrick and Bangor aren’t far behind them and we are all in that mix, Knockbreda are also in with a shout.

“In fact, all those teams I have mentioned are going to make a significant impact on where everyone will finish.

“In saying all that, don’t rule out other teams in terms of what’s going to happen in the league, because there are teams at the bottom who are fighting for points.

“And I know that when we go to the likes of the (Harland & Wolff) Welders, Donegal Celtic and Loughgall, we are going to be in for some tough games.

“I told the players after the game that beating Dundela doesn’t mean anything if we can’t go to Loughgall this Saturday and win.

“We’re trying to just roll from game to game and trying to keep our momentum going.”

The Waterside men travel to Lakeview Park this weekend with a fully fit squad to choose from.

Sean Roddy could also make a return before the end of the season as he continues to recover from his serious knee injury.