TONY Scullion believes Tyrone will want to keeping shutting out the light on Derry as they prepare for their fourth meeting of the season on Saturday night.
The two counties met in the O Fiaich Cup and twice in the Dr McKenna Cup with the Red Hands winning all three.
The pair face-off again in the Allianz NFL Division Two at Healy Park and while they could meet again before the League season is over, their Ulster Championship meeting on May 22 looms.
Scullion, who is part of Damian Barton's backroom team, says that Tyrone boss Mickey Harte will not want to give Derry a psychological edge in Omagh on Saturday night.
“Fair play to Mickey Harte. Down through the years, Mickey’s approach has never changed," said Scullion.
"He respects every competition, every game, no matter who they play. I’m sure Mickey doesn’t want to give Derry any light whatsoever.
“I know where Mickey is coming from: the thinking is, the more they beat Derry, the less confidence Derry will have. But, please God, Derry will have the confidence to go out and give them a game.”
Derry have improved each time they've played Tyrone this season. They mustered just four points from play in their 1-18 to 0-10 O Fiaich Cup defeat in December.
In their first McKenna Cup encounter Derry hit four goals against Tyrone but lost by a point in Owenbeg and were desperately unlucky to lose a pulsating final after extra-time.
Tyrone have won their opening three games in Division Two while Derry suffered their first defeat to Galway last weekend.
"Forget what’s going to happen in May – that’s a standalone match," insisted Scullion.
"That match will take care of itself. There’s nothing to hide in these games because Tyrone and Derry know each other so well.
“We’ll do our best in every game and we’ll see where it takes us. We have to go out against Tyrone and give a performance because last Sunday’s was very poor. We know the task ahead of us going to Omagh but let’s go and enjoy it and embrace it.”
Derry boss Damian Barton picked up an eight-week ban for getting involved in a fracas during the McKenna Cup final and is banned from the sidelines for the remainder of Division Two.
“It’s disappointing what happened to Damian and he’s hurting,” said Scullion.
Derry are still without Dermot McBride (knee) and Enda Lynn, who suffered a fractured ankle in the closing stages of the McKenna Cup final.
The good news for Lynn is that he will have his cast removed this week and could be back in contention in “four or five weeks”.
“We can’t afford to be without those lads. Fergal Doherty retired, Patsy Bradley has been a great servant for Derry but his back is giving him a lot of problems,” Scullion explained.
“When you lose men of that calibre and you lose players like Dermot McBride and Enda Lynn you’re losing players that have been there and bought the T-shirt. At the minute we’re trying to build a team.”
The Oak Leafers delivered a tepid performance at home to Galway last weekend and were fortunate to lose by just three points.
“Galway were excellent,” Scullion added. “Their ball-carrying and support play was excellent right from their goalkeeper; they attacked us from all angles.
“They are great runners with the ball and very athletic. They caused Derry lots of bother.
“After the first five minutes we were very poor for long spells in the first half and even in the second half. Galway were the better team and they deserved their victory. There were no excuses from Derry.”
Derry have already beaten Fermanagh and Cavan and a win this weekend would see them right in the promotion shake-up.
“We started with two good victories over Fermanagh and Cavan. It was a good workmanlike performance against Cavan. To beat Cavan in Breffni Park you’re doing very, very well. That was a great effort because I tell you this Cavan are a good team. Cavan will do well.
“So we’ve started the League well but sometimes you learn more from defeat than winning games. We’re still a work-in-progress.”
