Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins
They’ve been particularly strong at home apart from the losses to the Hoops and Galway.
A 0-0 draw with Sligo offered little indications on the team early in the season, yet they have gone in different directions.
This evening the Candystripes host Rovers at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium with kick off at 7.45 pm.
Said manager Ruaidhri Higgins: “We need to try and capitalise on it [Sligo’s poor form and home advantage].
“Our home form has been much better this year and we need to try and maximise it and get the crowd right behind us and give them something to get behind and try and get a big home win.
“You’ve seen throughout the league campaign this year that there are results that throw up surprises to a certain extent. Nothing surprises us in this league anymore really. We need to be really well prepared and try to get a big, big home win.”
Bit O’ Red boss John Russell did not hold back on his team’s display in losing 3-0 to Bohemians last week.
They will be down to the bare bones if a number of player fail fitness tests.
Rovers will be without central defensive pair John Mahon (achilles) and Nando Pijnaker (ribs), while wingers Simon Power (groin) and Will Fitzgerald (foot) will also sit this one out.
Ollie Denham, Wilson Waweru and Owen Elding will be assessed before kick-off.
Russell said: “We were very disappointed with our performance last week against Bohs.
“We all sat down during the week and reviewed the game and to be honest, there were some hard truths.
“Yes, we are down bodies at the moment with so many injuries but that was no excuse for the performance against Bohs.
“The staff and I are looking for a big reaction from the players. We still have a lot of quality in the squad and in whatever team we send out on tonight against Derry.
“I want to see the fight and desire necessary to pick up points in this league,” added Russell
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