Loughhall vs Institute Preview: Stute loughed and loaded

Institute are ready to get back into league action after their game with PSNI was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

‘Stute’s last outing was a narrow 1-0 home defeat to league leaders Warrenpoint Town and while Kevin Deery’s side were keen to get back to winning ways on Saturday a failed pitch inspection meant the game had to be rescheduled.

The Drumahoe side currently sit third in the league table and now have that game in hand over Ballyclare Comrades who sit one point above them.

Second or third place is all the Blues need to secure a play-off spot but no doubt Deery will be keen to finish as high as possible in the final league standings.

One blow this weekend is the loss of Ryan Morrow who is suspended for the game after picking up five yellow cards. The full-back has been ‘Stute’s player of the season to date and with Dean Curry still working his way back into training after injury the Blues could be light defensively.

Reflecting on the postponed game against PSNI, the manager admitted he was disappointed that his team didn’t get a chance to rectify the result against Warrenpoint and get back on the winning track.

“I think we needed the game to be honest so we’re disappointed that it had to be called off,” Deery told the Derry News.

“We played really well against Warrenpoint and didn’t really get what we deserved from that game so we were eager to get into another game and to try and build on all the positives from that.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t happen and now we’ll have to make an adjustment to try and fit it into the schedule. It will probably have to be a week night but it’s hard to know because I don’t think they have floodlights so I’m too sure how it will work out. For now, we’re focused on Loughgall and on pushing for that second place,” he added.

With second place now in their own hands, Deery said it is hard to say whether they are better off in having a game in hand over their closest rivals.

“I can’t really say if it’s an advantage or a disadvantage because we don’t even know when the game will be now. In fairness it happens a lot more than you would probably think,” he explained.

“We actually went through it more last year than we have this year so it’s not a surprise for us. We’re used to it and from that point of view it means that it shouldn’t have an impact on us going forward trying to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves.”

For now ‘Stute are looking to stabilise their form again on Saturday when they travel to face sixth placed Loughgall. While their opponents are bottom in the top half fight, Deery insisted they will provide a tough test.

“We have to match their intensity from the start and if we can do that we will be in with a good chance. They will certainly be willing to fight and they’ll ask us questions physically so we must be prepared to respond to that,” stated the manager.

“We are more than capable of causing them bother and of getting the win but if we don’t respond to that challenges that they present to us then we’ll make it difficult for ourselves. We can’t allow them to intimidate or to outmuscle us.”

When addressing the fact that his side are now one point off Ballyclare, the manager said he wasn’t taking anything for granted given how difficult the league is.

“The league is what it is. Warrenpoint ran away with it because they won games and they were able to go on a good run. I felt we were unlucky in a lot of ways because we just weren’t getting the rub of the green sometimes but it’s tough to go on a run, and we have found that out at times.”

He continued: “We want three points in each and every games we have left and it’s not our job to worry about what other people are doing around us. I know that we can finish in the play-off spots and it’s a great opportunity for us that we simply have to take.”

While they are trying to bounce back from defeat, Deery insisted that he feels his team are one of the best in the league and he was keen to remind them that they are feared by those around them.

“It’s been positive to date. We beat Dergview in the first game after the split and I felt we deserved more in the last match against Warrenpoint. It doesn’t always happen for you but that’s football. We know that we are feared in the league and we have to keep reminding ourselves of that. There are few teams who are as capable as ourselves and we have to believe in our own ability over the next seven or eight games.”