DERRY City face Shelbourne in the Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday night at Tolka Park in a game that boss Ruaidhrí Higgins has described as a ‘must-win match’ for his side.
The Brandywell men sit seven points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers and, with only 13 league games remaining, the Limavady man knows his side can’t afford any more slip ups.
“We have to treat the Shels game as a must-win match and three points is our absolute focus,” said Higgins.
“I think everybody now knows they’re a very good team and deserve a lot of respect for what they’ve done, so we’re under no illusions that it’s going to be an extremely difficult game.”
The 38-year-old has been pleased with large parts of his side’s recent performances, but knows they need to be more creative in the final third of the pitch.
“We just need a wee spark at the top end of the pitch,” he explained.
“I know over the last month or six weeks it’s been a difficult period for the club, but it’s important to remain focused on taking the club forward.
“As I said we’re in a difficult moment but I’ve no doubt in my mind that with a wee bit of luck there’s good times ahead.
“Obviously we’re in the business of winning football matches, so we just need to keep fighting and we’ll come through it.
“You enjoy the highs more when you know that you’ve been through a bit of adversity.
“It has been a very strange season to say the least but we’re fully confident that for the rest of the season we can bring some success to the club.”
A major factor why City have struggled in the final third of the pitch this campaign is because talented players such as Patrick McEleney, Cameron Dummigan, Will Patching and Michael Duffy have missed large parts.
Midfielder Dummigan got just over 60 minutes in Monday night’s loss against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium, while McEleney, Patching and Duffy aren’t far away from returning to the squad.
“It’s not an excuse, it’s a fact but a lot of our match winners are unavailable to us,” Higgins insisted.
“But we still have players on the pitch who are capable of producing moments and it’s just about having that cut throat mentality when you get up there and that composure and taking that responsibility in the final third and I have no doubt we have the squad to do that.
“Hopefully we can create and take our chances at Shelbourne, as I said it’s going to be a very difficult game, but one that we’ll be looking to do everything to try and win.”
Elsewhere on Friday night in the Premier Division, champions Shamrock Rovers travel to Dundalk, St Patrick’s Athletic host bottom side UCD, Cork City entertain Drogheda United and Bohemians make the trip to an out of sorts Sligo Rovers.
In the First Division, it’s top versus bottom as leaders Galway United host basement men Kerry, Cobh Ramblers come up against Athlone Town and Bray Wanderers visit Treaty United, while tomorrow evening Longford Town take on Wexford at Bishopsgate.
