Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins is hoping that his side can enjoy a “special Brandywell night” to send the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division title race into overdrive heading down the stretch.
Leaders Shamrock Rovers head north on Friday evening and if they travel back to Dublin defeated, City will be just a single point behind with six games remaining.
While Higgins wouldn’t go as far to say that it was a must-win fixture if they were to keep alive their hopes of winning the league for the first time since 1997, he is confident that a raucous home crowd can give those ambitions a real shot in the arm.
“They’re three-in-a-row champions and they’re that for a reason,” he said of Rovers.
“They know how to get it done, they know how to win, but we’re in really good form the last few months and it’s a game we’re relishing and looking forward to with a brilliant home support behind us.
“Hopefully it can be a real special Brandywell night.”
“When the crowd get behind us in the Brandywell, the nights are getting darker earlier, the floodlights will be on and I love it when it’s like that,” he added.
“It creates a real atmosphere and Shamrock Rovers coming to town, hopefully we can make it a memorable night.”
After Shamrock Rovers defeated Dundalk last month, manager Stephen Bradley told RTÉ Sport that: “we know that if we do our stuff it doesn’t matter what happens anywhere else in the country.”
Asked for his thoughts on such an assertion, Higgins said that he had full faith in his squad and their ability to compete with the best.
“It’ll be a good match, that’s for sure. If we’re at our best and they’re at their best, it’ll be some game of football.
“I’ll back my players every day of the week, he’ll back his.
“Listen, a few months ago we spoke as a group about putting ourselves in a position over a period of time to set up something for ourselves, and we’ve managed to do that.
“All credit goes to our players for how they’ve went about their business the last few months.
“We’ve given ourselves an opportunity, that’s all it at the minute, an opportunity. We’ll treat this game the way we treat every game.
“We won’t get too excited about it; we’ll be nice and calm this week and we’ll prepare the way we always prepare.”
Rovers are chasing their fourth successive league title to match the exploits of their great team of the mid ’80s, but the examination has been particularly stiff this term. Higgins, however, is still full of praise for their class.
“People are saying we’ve taken four from six from Dundalk and Bohs [in recent weeks] and it’s a great return, well they’ve taken six from six from Dundalk and Bohs so they’re not doing too bad.”
For defender Shane McEleney, ending that long wait for a league title is the primary focus for all involved with the club.
“That’s the big goal,” he said.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good place and Friday’s the game, as a player, and I’m sure anyone involved with the club, wants to be involved in.
“It’s not going to be an easy feat by any means. We know they’re a good side but hopefully we can just go and play as we’ve been playing in recent weeks.”
