Derry City manager Kenny Shiels has urges the club’s fans to get right behind his injury-hit side when they run out for the last home game of their Airtricity League Season tonight.
Sligo Rovers are the visitors as City aim to sign off their Brandywell season with a victory, although the home side will have to do without influential centre-back Niclas Vemmelund this evening.
The Danish defender has been in superb form and Shiels admits he is a big loss.
“We have lost Niclas for this game, on top of the defenders we are already without and it looks as though we have lost Ben Doherty, who was ill overnight,” said the former Kilmarnock boss.
“I know Sligo have a few suspended as well but the players we have missing play in vital positions for our team and to lose another player at the back – we just don’t know what to do.
“I just need the crowd to get behind us as we are certainly looking a wee bit understrength.”
After their recent FAI Cup semi-final defeat to Dundalk, Shiels asked his players to dig deep and win their remaining four league games to secure third place.
They have completed half of that job, securing victories against Longford Town and Bohemians.
Nevertheless, Sligo are still fighting for a European spot themselves and Shiels is only too aware of that as Dave Robertson’s side are five points behind fourth-placed Shamrock Rovers with two games remaining.
“Sligo are right in the mix now for Europe,” said Shiels.
“It’s between them and Shamrock Rovers for the fourth position and it’s between Rovers and ourselves for third.
“There are five-point gaps in both situations so they have a lot to play for and so have we.
“Sligo bring in some great players from England every year and they can afford to do that, which is good because it enriches the league and I have nothing but praise for them.
“But hopefully we can get around them, work hard and have a fashion of play that will give the supporters some pride in what we do, as we look to improve the product all the time.”
Elsewhere tonight, second-placed Cork City need to claim a victory over St Patrick’s Athletic to keep their slim title hopes alive.
Wexford Youths host Finn Harps in what really is a relegation six-pointer. The Donegal men know a victory would mean they avoid the relegation play-off match and guarantee their Premier Division status.
Already relegated Longford Town travel to managerless and free-falling Galway United and Shamrock Rovers entertain Bray Wanderers looking to keep their hopes of finishing third alive.
Tomorrow, the First Division play-off, first leg sees Drogheda United travelling to Cobh Ramblers.
On Sunday night, Dundalk will get the chance to pop the champagne corks as they know three points over Bohemians, in front of the RTE cameras, will secure their third title in-a-row.
