Soccer

Derry City boss Higgins says home form must improve if they are to challenge for title

Candystripes have not been League of Ireland champions since 1997

Derry City Ronan Boyce with Dayle Rooney of Drogheda United at the Brandywell on Monday night. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 14-3-2022
Drogheda United are the visitors to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium for Friday night SSE Airtricity Premier Division opener Picture: Margaret McLaughlin (MARGARET McLAUGHLIN PICTURES / C)

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division

Derry City v Drogheda United (Friday, 7.45pm, live on LOI TV)

Derry City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins insists his side’s home form needs to improve this season, as they get ready for Friday night’s big kick-off against Drogheda United, at a sold-out Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Higgins believes if the Candystripes harbour hopes of claiming their first title in 27 years, then they’ll need to improve at home. “

If you want to be realistic about doing anything then you have to be dominant at home and you have to put teams away,” he insisted.

“I think earlier in the season at the Brandywell last year, we dropped too many points.

“I feel our home form definitely improved from the summer onwards, but it’s something that we’re all conscious of and it’s something that we really want to ram home and try to make home advantage count a bit more than what we’ve done.

Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins wants his side to be more ruthless at home this season Picture: Margaret McLaughlin

“Our away record two years in a row, was the best in the league, but we want to improve our home form this season.”

The Limavady man also acknowledges that in 2024 his squad will have to pick up more points against the sides at the bottom half of the table

“From the bottom five teams last year we took 40 points from a possible 60, which you would like that to be a bit more,” he added.

“But I think this year more than any season, you see how the league is going to shape up.

“The two promoted teams (Galway United and Waterford) are really good sides as well, so it’s going to be an extremely competitive league and because of that I think our home form is going to be crucial and we want to get off to a good start, on Friday night.”

The 39-year-old knows it’s going to be a tough test against the Drogs this evening and has praised his opposite number Kevin Doherty for the job he’s done with the Co Louth club.

“They’ve just been taken over and they’ve a wee bit more money to spend as well than what they had previously and they’ve recruited well,” explained Higgins.

“To be fair they’ve always recruited well and they’ve always been very shrewd with their recruitment.

“They’ve caused us problems and we took seven points from 12 off Drogheda last year and the year before I think it was less, so we know they’re a tough nut to crack and they’re always well organised.

“They caused problems for all the top end teams over the last few years, but we’re at home on Friday, in front of our own supporters and we want to send them home happy.”

The Derry boss also confirmed that he has virtually a fully fit squad to choose from for Friday evening’s league opener with Sadou Diallo, Colm Whelan and Ciaron Harkin, the only players to miss out.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Saturday night champions Shamrock Rovers begin their defence at home to Dundalk; FAI Cup winners St Patrick’s Athletic make the trip to Galway United; Bohemians host Sligo Rovers and Shelbourne travel South to Waterford.

In the First Division, Cork City host Kerry; Bray Wanderers entertain UCD; Wexford visit Athlone Town and Cobh Ramblers visit Treaty United, before tomorrow night Darren Murphy’s Finn Harps take on Longford Town, at Bishopgate.