Derry boss expecting no repeat of trouble at Dalymount

Bohemians vs. Derry City | Dalymount Park | Friday, 7:45pm

Tiernan Lynch doesn’t believe there will be a repeat of the scenes at the Brandywell earlier this season when both he and Bohemians manager Alan Reynolds were red-carded, when the clubs meet for a second time at Dalymount Park tomorrow.

Lynch’s Brandywell debut lasted barely 10 minutes back in February when referee Marc Lynch sent both managers to the stand following a fracas on the sidelines. It was the first of two red cards the City boss has received in the first few months of his tenure, having also been dismissed at Galway United in April, but he isn’t expecting any such drama this time around.

“It’s just about the game on Friday night,” he insisted. “What happened in the first game was that emotions got high and that happens on football. It’s water under the bridge now as far as I’m concerned and it’s a matter of moving on and Friday night is a different game. Hopefully we both stay in our technical areas and we both get through the game and there’s no sending offs and it’s an enjoyable game of football that ideally, we can come out the right end of.”

Lynch and his players have had to shake off last week’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers in preparation for another trip to Dublin this week, but he admitted it was hard to do so.

“The better question would be if I’ve slept since,” he said. “It was a really difficult pill to swallow. We were hugely, hugely disappointed in the group in the goals we conceded and the manner in which we conceded the goals. When you do go away and reflect, and I’ve obviously watched the game back and broken it down, and I’ve got the data to go with the technical and tactical side of the game; there were lots of really good things we did, especially in the first half. We probably took our foot off the gas and that’s probably not something that we can accept. We’ve got to go in there and produce those first half levels for 90 minutes. 45 minutes is no good to us, not if we’re serious about going where we want to go. That’s something we need to improve on.”

Derry City have enjoyed an incredible record at Dalymount Park over the years, and again recently, with the club winning six of their last nine visits and losing just one. Lynch is hoping that form continues.

“That’s got to be our mentality,” he continued. “As I keep telling the players, we have to go into every game believing that we can win it. That’s where we’re at. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy in any way, shape of form. Every game in this league, as we’ve all seen up to now, is a battle. Top teams, top players, top managers; I keep repeating myself, but that’s just the way it is. There’s no doubt that it’s going to be extremely difficult going there, but it’s a battle that we’re well up for and hopefully we can get the win.”

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This game marks the hallway point of the league season for Lynch and Derry City, and the last before the two-week mid-season break, with the summer transfer window approaching quickly. Lynch believes it adds to the excitement for the club’s supporters.

“There’s a lot of work going on in that period during the break, looking at how we’re going to strengthen come the window, and that’s something we’re really looking forward to, fresh faces,” he explained.

“I feel it’s an exciting time at Derry City Football Club. I know I can speak on behalf of all the staff when I say that we’re loving every minute of it, it’s a brilliant league, the fans have been brilliant, the games at home have been brilliant and they have gotten behind us. We’re desperate to try and repay them and try to bring some success.”

“It’s no secret that we do want to strengthen and we do want to bring players into the team. That’s also an exciting time, trying to find the right players now that are not only good enough to play for this football club, but the character to play for this football club, which is also hugely important for us, so hopefully the future is bright.”