Ahead of making the trip to Castellammare di Stabia for the first leg of the Serie B play-off semi-final, Cremonese boss Giovanni Stroppa suggested Juve Stabia were feeling pressure for the first time this season.

After playing with house money for most of the campaign, the Wasps would ditch their carefree approach once they realised the enormity of what was at stake in the play-offs, namely a second consecutive promotion.

Mind games from a wily campaigner at this level? Perhaps, but there was an element of truth to Stroppa’s remarks. After all, the pressure that comes with unexpected success is one of the hardest aspects to manage in professional sport.

If they are feeling any, however, Juve Stabia are doing a fine job of hiding it.

Goals from Christian Pierobon and Andrea Adorante, the 17th of an extraordinary debut season, sealed a 2-1 win over Cremonese in the first leg on Wednesday night, leaving the Stabians 90 minutes from the final and keeping the dream of back-to-back promotions alive.

It would be a sensational achievement for a team with a wage bill of just €5m, by some distance the smallest in Serie B. Not that Guido Pagliuca is looking that far ahead yet.

“We mustn’t get complacent about the lead we’ve gained ,” the Stabians manager said after the first leg.

“Our focus needs to be on playing our game, just as we always do, by putting the strategy we study into action. The youth and the incredibly strong moral fabric of this squad mean everyone will be prepared for the challenge, ready to give their absolute best, no matter how much time they get on the field.

“Everyone knows they’re key with so many matches coming thick and fast. The players have shown once again that they can tackle a tough test and come out strong; the personality they demonstrated on the pitch was unbelievable.”

Playing the second leg away may not be a particular disadvantage for the Stabians, as Cremonese have won just seven times in front of their own fans this season, with eight draws and four defeats.

Conversely, Dennis Johnsen’s goal on Wednesday night was a timely reminder that the Grigiorossi remain a team capable of finding the net when it matters most, as evidenced by their attacking record, the third-best in Serie B.

As Stroppa admitted on Wednesday night, his side struggled to deal with the Stabians’ aerial threat, but he remained confident they can turn the tie around on Sunday.

With the Serie B play-off format rewarding the team finishing higher in the regular season if scores are level after 90 or 120 minutes, Cremonese need a win to reach the final.

“We must be composed, stay calm, and play our brand of football,” Stroppa said.

“We failed to do that, particularly in the first half (in the first leg). We’re perfectly capable of playing football, and I’m sure we’ll put in a great performance on Sunday.”

Defeat at the Romeo Menti on Wednesday was only Cremonese’s second since February 22, a run which has delivered just two clean sheets in the process. If they are to advance to the final, tightening up defensively must be high on Stroppa’s agenda.

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