Higgins backs Derry to find some consistency ahead of Rovers test
After a difficult four weeks of results, Derry City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins feels it’s only a matter of time before his side finds the consistency required to challenge Shamrock Rovers for the title.
Derry host the five-in-a-row chasing Hoops at the Brandywell tomorrow night and will be hoping to put a testing few weeks behind them with a first victory over the champions in over a year, as they come into the clash with one win in their last five.
After Rovers secured a fourth successive Premier Division title last term, Higgins accepts that Stephen Bradley’s side have set the bar, but says that a big win this week could prove the catalyst for the Candystripes to drive on in the weeks ahead.
“There’s a lot to be positive about in terms of some of the stuff we have played, [there’s] stuff to tidy up on as well but we’re 10 games into a 36game season. I’m sure sooner or later we’ll find that consistency we need,” said Higgins, speaking with his side currently joint-second and one point ahead of Rovers.
“They are big games [against Rovers] and great games to be involved in. They know how to win leagues and they have set the standard for everyone else in the country to try to reach.
Unbelievable
“If you look through the whole league nobody really, bar Shelbourne for that period, have shown an unbelievable level of consistency so it’s just a matter of us focusing on ourselves, try to get a big win on Friday and hopefully it gives us a kick to move on from.
“It’s been frustrating but there have been positive signs in the last couple of weeks. Obviously you want maximum points from every game you go into but, everyone seems to be searching for that consistency and we’re no different. I’ve no doubt we will find it and hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.”
Derry have lost two and drawn two across their last four meetings with the Hoops, while a 92nd-minute Markus Poom strike denied Higgins’ men a big win at Tallaght Stadium last month.
Elsewhere, it has emerged that Shelbourne were facing a Tolka Park stadium closure for Monday’s huge TV meeting with Shamrock Rovers as punishment for fan behaviour in Drogheda – but the punishment was reduced on appeal.
The FAI have confirmed to the Irish Independent that the original decision of the independent disciplinary committee who assessed the throwing of a smoke-bomb from the Shelbourne section in Weavers Park was for the next Reds’ home game to be played behind closed doors – that fixture is the visit of the champions to Tolka.
However, an appeal lodged by Shels resulted in a new committee sitting to consider the episode and they opted for the lighter sanction of an away fan ban for tomorrow’s trip to Galway United, an outcome that has generated criticism because it’s the Tribesmen who suffer a financial impact.