SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Drogheda United v Derry City (Friday, 7.45pm)
DERRY City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins wants his team to play with freedom at relegation-threatened Drogheda United tonight.
The Candystripes sit 21 points ahead of Kevin Doherty’s side and, while Higgins wants a front foot approach, he also knows it’s going to be a tough encounter at Weavers Park.
“I want us to go down and play with freedom and express ourselves,” he insisted.
“There are going to be moments when we will have to dig deep but I want to go down and enjoy our football and try to dominate the game and create opportunities because we will have players in the team who are more than capable of doing that.
“Both (Frantz) Pierrot and (Douglas) James-Taylor are a handful, there is no doubt about that. They play to their strengths and they have recruited really well.
“The team we beat here (at Brandywell) 5-1 in the last meeting has dramatically changed so we know the test that we are in for but I think we are mentally and physically ready to go.
“Not only with the two boys up top – with Ryan Brennan, Shane Farrell, Darragh Markey in midfield and you have attacking threats from the side as well with their wing backs and the ability to change their system because of the four or five new signings they brought in in the summer.
“They have really, really benefited from it. They are a very different proposition now and I think they are a smashing team.”
Champions Shamrock Rovers moved to within just four points of leaders Shelbourne after their narrow win over Bohemians on Monday night and the 39-year-old knows that the Hoops will be doing everything they can to secure their fifth Premier Division title in a row.
“Listen, they are right back in it but I never ever felt they were out of it,” he stated.
“As I said a few months ago, the games in hand meant they were always still in it.
“They are on a good run at the minute and we have always said if you can put a good run together you will gain serious ground and they have gained ground.
“It looks very much like three in the hunt.
“They have won four (titles) on the spin so they have that experience to lean on but we obviously have players in our dressing room who have won the Premier Division numerous times as well.
“We have players who have won Scottish championships, so we have players who know how to get the job done at the business end of the season and that will be vital for us as well as them.”
The Limavady man confirmed that Ben Doherty misses out with a hamstring injury, while midfielder Adam O’Reilly has a minor injury problem.
“Ben’s rehabbing and recovering well,” he confirmed. “Adam O’Reilly has a minor issue that we are not 100 per cent sure about at the moment so we have to wait and see how the next 24 hours play out for him, whether we take a chance or not. But the squad will more or less be the same as last week.”
It will be the Drogs’ third game in a week and they will be without Zishim Bawa, while Matthew O’Brien is doubtful having missed their last two games.
In the First Division, Finn Harps make the long trek from Ballybofey to Kerry FC (7.45pm).
