Mind games begin as the title race hots up

On Soccer: The Manchester-based scribes who cover United and report Alex Ferguson's every word are, by all accounts, embarrassed that they don't know for sure if he ever coined the exact phrase "squeaky-bum-time".

Yet because of them, those three words are inextricably linked with the Scot.

At the business end of the 2002-03 Premiership season, the Old Trafford club was slugging it out with Arsenal for the title. On transcribing Ferguson's quotes after a pre-match press conference, the journalists could not accurately decipher whether the manager had said: "squeaky-bum time" or "squeeze-your-bum time". His thick Glaswegian accent had them flummoxed so a vote apparently took place among the writers present.

The former translation narrowly won out and has since become every-day football speak - so much so it has bunked its way into the Collins English Dictionary. "Squeaky-bum-time": - "The tense final stages of a league competition, especially from the point of view of the leaders".

When throwing the phrase into the mix, Ferguson was attempting to unnerve his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman's team were reigning champions and led United by eight points in March but, ultimately, succumbed to a late, sustained and irresistible surge from their rivals. That, Wenger discovered to his cost, was the essence of "squeaky-bum-time".

Pat Scully, the Shamrock Rovers manager, doesn't trade in Fergie-isms as such. He's a call-a-spade-a-spade kinda guy, and, like Ferguson, fiercely believing and unmoving in his convictions.

He is overseeing a young, enthusiastic squad pushing for contention against all the odds. Having secured promotion from the First Division, the former giants are punching above their weight but their proven durability affords two fingers to the begrudgers.

Scully insists his side are learning as they go, cleverly deflecting pressure away from his team at this crucial stage of the season. At the outset of the campaign, though, the manager was bullish about his side's prospects, no more so when noting how Derry and Cork were misfiring.

Thus, it is interesting to note his about-turn of late. He now plays a straighter bat with less fighting talk. Scully never directly questioned Drogheda's title credentials, refusing to provide ammunition with which to beat him and his team. Rather he coolly conceded the league title to the leaders a fortnight ago - but he was fooling no one.

Scully had just witnessed his second-placed side lose 1-0 to resurgent bottom side Longford. After the match he ruled Rovers out of the chase. Drogheda, as they did, led by seven points with a game in hand and a little less than a series of games remaining.

That outstanding game, against UCD, came three days after Rovers' defeat and Scully's strategically timed comments must have toyed in the minds of the Drogheda players who were sucker-punched at home, losing 1-0 to the students.

Drogheda, holding the advantage they do, have the league at their mercy as they chase their first championship. It is absolutely theirs and theirs alone to squander. But with seven games remaining, expect both Rovers and a revitalised St Patrick's Athletic to prove relentless pursuers of Paul Doolin's team.

In attempting to get inside the head of a rival, particularly one governing the race, managers here have rarely stooped to the levels of their Premiership counterparts. All too often agenda-driven spats between Ferguson and Wenger, Benitez and Mourinho become downright catty and often farcical.

Both teams still require a monumental effort over the closing weeks, twinned, of course, with a dramatic Drogheda collapse. But, as Doolin will be all too aware, his team wobbled against UCD and going forward there is a need to look over his shoulder.

It should be noted that loss was Drogheda's first in the league since May but Scully and McDonnell must take comfort that the strain may yet magnify. Not least ahead of key games when both managers host the leaders in the coming weeks and, in McDonnell's case, on the closing night. It is difficult to see Drogheda falling apart to the extent that they would be caught but still, squeaky-bum-time anyone?