Institute's Kevin Deery won’t let standards drop off

Knockbreda vs. Institute   |   Breda Park   |   Saturday, 3pm

After watching his team stand toe-to-toe against Linfield in the Irish Cup last week, Kevin Deery is not willing to let those high standards drop heading into the most important stage of the season.

With just four games remaining before the spilt, ‘Stute are in fourth place, still very much in the race for promotion, but every game now is so important with several teams fighting it out to finish behind Dundela, who now sit five points clear at the top of the table.

With just four points from the last four league games however, momentum has been lost somewhat for ‘Stute, but Deery believes that last week’s cup tie against the biggest team in the Irish League came at the perfect time for his players, who showed exactly what they are capable of.

The game ended in a 3-1 defeat to David Healy’s treble-seekers, but ‘Stute more than held their own against some of the best players in the country, finishing the game very strongly in the process.

“I want that to help us catapult us now until the end of the season and for us to go to Knockbreda with the same mentality and same attitude,” Deery insisted. “That’s what football is about, being up for it every week, so we have Knockbreda away then Portadown to come here so we have a big fortnight in the league.”

There was a large crowd at the Brandywell for last week’s cup tie, which was the first time that Linfield visited Derry in over five years. ‘Stute have not been in the Premier Division since being controversially relegated during the pandemic in 2020, and last week’s game was symbolic of what life may be like back on the top flight should ‘Stute get there.

“It gives them a taste for it,” Deery acknowledged. “You want those crowds coming in here on a regular basis. I think our football warranted us getting a bit of support and that sense of reward because they put a lot in.

"I keep saying about my budget, compared to Linfield’s. I haven’t got the resources’ we’re working off a very limited budget, probably one of the lowest in our league and to try and compete with Linfield, who are on big, astronomical wages, you have to strip it back sometimes and go “right, we’re getting some value here at this club”. So, I’m really proud of them and I’m proud of the club for backing us this season as well because they have worked hard as well to get us to this place.”

SPLIT

Just two points separate Bangor, Portadown and Institute in second, third and fourth place, meaning that every single point is vital over the next month. With Portadown coming to the Brandywell next week, a win at last-placed Knockbreda this weekend is essential for Deery and his players.

‘Stute have already beaten ‘Breda, back at the Brandywell in August and away in December, but the manager is not willing to accept any drop in quality and fight, especially now when it matters most.

Sean Carlin in action against Linfield in the Irish Cup Quarterfinal at the Brandywell last week.

“I told the boys if there is any sloppiness or if standards drop, it will not be accepted, because we have shown a lot this season that we are capable of going on a run in this league,” he insisted. “That’s what we have to do now, we have to go on a run, and it starts with Knockbreda on Saturday.

"If I don’t see people training properly this week after those levels (against Linfield), I’ll just pick the players that are, and that’s what I’m doing from now until the end of the season.

“There were people who didn’t get in, like Bobby Deane, who didn’t make the squad, and he deserved to make the squad, but there’s a lot of hurt in there as well, boys coming off the bench who feel they should be starting.

"They have to respond in the right way this week and they have to try and get in the team again and go on a run, that’s the plan.”