GOALKEEPER Gerard Doherty believes Friday's derby against Finn Harps is the perfect game for his Derry City side.
The Candystripes have lost their last two matches but the skipper feels the clash at Maginn Park could get them back on track.
“It’s a massive game, it’s always a massive game under whatever circumstances,” Doherty stated.
“But at the same point, it’s another 90 minutes and we have to win it, that’s the attitude we need to go into this game.
“Maybe coming off the back of last week’s defeat and performance it’s a good fixture to have.
“We knew Cork were on a good run and we were on a good run the week before that, but then bang it stopped and before you know it you are in a bad run, you are losing games and you have to get yourself out of that rut very quickly.
“At the end of the season a bad run does add up. I remember a couple of years back when we had too many draws in a row and that ended our chances of Europe, so it’s something that we need to knock on the head very soon.
“To be honest we had a good hard look at ourselves because we had a long journey on the way back from Cork and we knew that we didn’t turn up or perform, but we have got the heads together the last couple of days and we are knuckling down.
“I know it’s a bit of a cliché but we have worked hard in training, but you can do that all you want, we have to start showing it in games now.”
Once again, Maginn Park will be a sell-out and Doherty feels he and his team-mates are starting to get used to their 2017 home.
“Maginn is starting to feel a wee bit more like home now,” he added.
“The boys are getting used to it, the fans are maybe getting used to Maginn. At the start, I suppose it was going into the unknown, but people are starting to get used to the surroundings and we are getting used to the pitch, the floodlights and things you don’t think about from outside, but we are looking a wee bit more comfortable.
“Hopefully we can make it even more comfortable on Friday night.”
Meanwhile, Finn Harps’ injury problems are also mounting. With the first choice striking partnership of Danny Morrissey and Ciaran O’Connor already ruled out (hamstring), another forward, Danny Dsane is also unavailable having picked up a back strain.
Former Derry player Sean Houston – normally a midfielder – could be drafted into a makeshift Harps attack with just one up front, with attacking youngsters Simon McGlynn and BJ Banda likely to be named on the bench for deployment if required.
Paddy McCourt is still troubled by an ankle problem and Barry Molloy has an ongoing calf injury.
Friday (7.45pm unless stated)
Bohemians v Cork City; Derry City v Finn Harps;
Dundalk v Bray; Galway Utd v St Patricks;
Shamrock Rovers v Sligo (8pm)
