Thornton insists Lilywhites are not the force they were

‘When I first came here I didn’t get the whole idea of the Dundalk/Drogheda thing. I knew it was a derby but didn’t realise how passionate people were about it, but they’ll get the feeling on Friday and they’ll understand it then.

‘If you can’t get up for that game you can’t get up for anything really and we’re looking forward to it.

‘If you’re still in the game going into the second half, that’s what you want. I’m not even worrying about not conceding a goal early to stay in the game.

‘It’s going to be a tough one, but it’s like any other game in that we don’t fear Dundalk. They’re a better team than Bohemians, but there’s no fear from me or any of the other lads.’

Looking back at last Saturday’s game against Bohs, Thornton agreed that Drogheda shouldn’t have lost the game and the shortage of goals is becoming a concern.

‘The three points were there for the taking and we just didn’t take our chances,’ he admitted. ‘I had one personally, Stephen Elliott and Sean [Brennan], and then to concede from a set play. That’s all they’ve got really and we knew that and it’s really disappointing.

‘But the positives are that’s the best we’ve played as a team for a while football-wise, and the 4-4-2 formation was better.’

Asked about his own scoring opportunity towards the end of the first half, Thornton responded: ‘The lads were saying I should have hit it with my left, and the ball was coming on to my left which is why I used the outside of my right boot.

‘Hindsight is a great thing, but that’s the decision I made at the time.

‘From a personal point of view, I want to start getting on the scoresheet. A few of us need to step up because goals win games and there’s not enough [of us] scoring at the minute and I think we need to start chipping in, all of us.’