'There is a disconnect between us and the rest of the league' - Derry manager Ruaidhri Higgins

Drogheda United vs. Derry City - Weavers Park. Friday, 7;45pm

Ruaidhri Higgins feels the criticism aimed at the club and Patrick MCEleney in particular this past week will only spur the players on in their fight for this season’s league title.

The controversial decision to award Derry City a late penalty in their 1-1 draw with Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell last Friday was met with derision across the league, with RTE pundit Conan Byrne leading the criticism, describing it as ‘an absolute disgrace’.

The controversy has continued this week with the incident receiving national coverage but Higgins has not been surprised.

“It definitely has been ridiculous,” he insisted. “When you look at Mark Connelly's goal, when you see it, he's onside and then you look at the penalty that we didn't get. But yet the only talking point from the whole game is the penalty that we did get, and it's been well over the top.

“I felt that a lot of the stuff said about Patrick from ex-professionals has been personal, and you can't make personal comments about people you don't know, so from that end it's extremely disappointing. It won't take a fizz out of him, not a fizz, absolutely not. He's an extremely strong character. If anything it might do the opposite.”

Asked if the criticism would help spur his players on, Higgins was adamant in his response.

“It is about us,” he agreed. “It’s about nobody else, it’s about us. We're well used to it. We're well, well used to it. We live on the other side of the border. It's nothing different. Ever since my time involved with Derry, I've always felt that there was a disconnect between us and the rest.”

The City manager and his players have already switched their focus to tomorrow night’s game at Drogheda United, a ground where they have struggled for wins in recent years. Now just three points behind league leaders Shelbourne, winning is crucial, but with just one win in six league games at Weavers Park, Higgins knows how tough it will be.

“We're enjoying the ride and hopefully we can put in another decent performance now on Friday and pick up three points at a really difficult venue,” he continued. “All the games have been really tight. There's been a lot of draws over the last couple of years, so we know we need to put in a good display and a good performance if we want to try and win the game.”

On their last visit to Weaver’s Park back in April, City came from behind to lead at half-time, but the good work of the first half was forgotten as City dropped points after a poor second half display.

“The first half down there was as good a 45-minutes as we’ve had anywhere,” Higgins reflected. “We know if we can replicate that and get anywhere close to that, then we can get a big, big win. Drogheda went to Dalymount last week and won, and then got a good point the other night against Galway, so their confidence will be up.

"They're enjoying their football, so we know we're going to be in for an extremely tough game.”

‘Brilliant job’

Despite Drogheda’s problems at the foot of the table, Higgins believes that Kevin Doherty and his team have done well in an ultra-competitive season.

“I think there's such an equal spread of players in the league,” he explained. “I think they've done a brilliant job there, a really good job. They wouldn't have the budget that most of the clubs in our league now have. They're doing really well. Since the summer they've recruited really well and improved. We'll see how it ends up, but our main focus is on ourselves.”

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One interesting subplot of Derry City’s title challenge is that Pat Hoban is now out on his own as top scorer in the league with 13 goals. His penalty against Rovers took him one goal clear of both Waterford’s Padraig Amond and Shamrock Rovers’ Johnny Kenny. It was Hoban’s first league goal in six league games.

“I think all centre forwards, that's important to them all,” Higgins said. “I think the most impressive thing about Pat is just his will to win, his desire to win. No matter how he wins, he's just so desperate to win. Of course he's desperate to score goals, but winning is extremely important. I'm sure if Pat was to give up a few goals between now and the end of the season, but we were to be successful, I'm sure he would take that every day of the week.”