Derry City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins believes scoring the first goal will be crucial when his side travel to Galway United on Friday night.
The Tribesman have only scored seven goals in their opening 12 Premier Division games, but defensively they have been very solid and picked up a point away to champions Shamrock Rovers last Friday night
Higgins knows his side will have to be at their best if they hope to get a positive result from Eamonn Deacy Park, and says getting their noses in front could prove vital.
“I find that the first goal is important in any game,” said the Limavady man.
“Particularly in this league, but we’ve shown the capacity as well to come from behind this season, so whether we go in front or go behind, we can react to different situations and that’s really important.
“Galway don’t give up many goals whatsoever and when you analyse the game, they were really well set up and they’re a real threat on the break.
“They’ve got players that can hurt you when the ball turns over, so we need to be ready for that but also stamp our authority on the game because we’re scoring goals and we want to go down there and create opportunities.”
Only last month John Caulfield’s side secured a deserved 1-0 win at the Brandywell thanks to Stephen Walsh’s late strike, and Higgins wants to avenge that defeat and build on last week’s victory away to Waterford.
“That’s the plan. We want to go down there and win,” he said.
“We had a good away win last week. We’ve responded really well from the Shamrock Rovers game, and we want that to continue now on Friday.
“If you look at Galway’s last couple, they’ve drawn in Tallaght and they’ve beaten Shelbourne, so they’re a very, very good side.
“The league is full of good sides, so we’ll give them the respect they deserve, but we want to go down there and win.”
The Candystripes, who travelled down to Galway yesterday, have another injury concern with winger Michael Duffy struggling, but Cameron Dummigan and Sadou Diallo are both recovering wel.
“The squad will be pretty much the same as the Waterford game,” said Higgins.
“We’ll see how Michael Duffy is as he’s been carrying an injury for a while now. I don’t expect there to be any real additions to the squad.
“There’s a few getting quite close. Dummigan’s not too far away, Diallo’s not too far away.
“There’s a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for them two. But I would expect the squad to be pretty much the same.”
Elsewhere, the match of the night takes place at Dalymount Park, as Bohemians host old rivals Shamrock Rovers.
Leaders Shelbourne travel to Noel King’s Dundalk, who are looking to build on last week’s win over Bohs. St Patrick’s Athletic face Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers have home advantage over Waterford.
In the First Division, leaders Cork City make the trip to Kerry; UCD host managerless Longford Town; Bray Wanderers visit Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town face Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park.
