Uefa Europa Conference League first qualifying round, second leg
Derry City (0) v FCB Magpies (2) (Thursday, 7.45pm)
DERRY City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins wants another memorable Brandywell night as his side aim to turn around a two-goal deficit against Bruno Magpies in the Europa Conference League tonight.
The Candystripes suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss at the Europa Point Stadium in Gibraltar in last week’s first leg, but overcoming a two-goal deficit is something the club has achieved before in European competition, many years ago.
Way back in 1965, the Foylesiders trailed 5-3 to Norwegian side FK Lyn, but they secured a memorable 5-1 win in the return leg to become the first Irish football team to progress through a round in Europe.
While a repeat performance and result would do nicely, Higgins is backing his players to do everything in their power to have another special European night in front of their own fans.
“Having a big crowd right behind us is huge, to be honest it’s everything,” he insisted.
“We’ve seen how special European nights can be in the Brandywell. We need them to get right behind us from minute one.
“It’s probably a bit of a difference between now and last season where I think we look like we’re going to score goals. We create chances and we’ve got players who can put the ball in the back of the net, and if we get it right on the night, then there’s no doubt we can score goals.
“But also we have to be very mindful that we’re set up right behind the ball when we’re attacking because they’ve got threats as well.
“We can’t just go gung-ho. We have to attack with a certain amount of discipline as well and commit bodies forward, but being mindful that they have one or two threats on the counter-attack.
“There’s only one way really to approach it. We have to win the game. We’re obviously extremely disappointed with last week and how it panned out, but we now have an opportunity.
“Since the weekend, Saturday, Sunday morning, our full focus has been on trying to win this match, which we know we’re more than capable of doing. Training so far this week has been at a really high level, and if that’s anything to go by, we give ourselves a chance.”
The 39-year-old was also quick to point out that his team also need to show patience and not push the panic button early on, but he does feel that the opening goal is crucial.
“I think it doesn’t really matter when we get the opening goal. As long as we get it, we give ourselves a chance,” he explained.
“And I think that in our last four home games, we scored 12 goals. So we’re creating opportunities and scoring goals at home.
“Our home form’s been good. So if that’s anything to go by, we definitely give ourselves a chance.
“But we want the crowd to get right behind us. We need them. We need everyone that comes to the ground to be together. And if that’s the case, our stadium can be a really powerful place. And that’s what we want it to be.”
