Kevin Deery bans all talk of last season ahead of first home game against Dundela

Institute vs. Dundela

Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Saturday, 3pm

Kevin Deery has banned all talk of the club’s achievements last season ahead of the first home game of the new campaign.

‘Stute began the new NIFL campaign with a 2-2 draw at Armagh City at the weekend, with Mikhail Kennedy’s late free kick salvaging a point after Shane Boyle’s opener. It is the beginning of a new chapter for ‘Stute, who came so close to promotion last year, just losing out to Ballymena United in the promotion/ relegation play-off.

But that is all in the past, and Deery is looking forward, with his new-look squad eager to prove themselves once again.

“I have banned last season chat in the group. Last season was last season,” he insisted. “We're a completely new group with brand new players. Whatever happened last year is gone now so we just want to focus on this game.

“We have Dundela in the Brandywell this week so our sole focus is trying to get maximum points in that game. It's a brand-new season. They have a new group and we have a new group. We know what their strengths are. They're a very direct team. They put balls in the box. They play with two strikers and try and upset you down the side, so, we know all their strengths, so, it's up to us to get the basics right, to be honest, defend properly, try and implement our own style in the game, and try and take all three points.”

‘Stute failed to beat Dundela at home last year, but the home form was exceptional overall, and Deery knows the importance of winning games at the Brandywell in a very competitive league.

“We know we're creating chances, we've scored a good few goals in pre-season, and we want to keep that up, but we've got to nullify the threat at the other end which is a big thing that we need to focus on this week,” he explained.

“For all our good play and scoring goals, we're going to have to stop leaking a few. We've leaked a few goals away to Armagh which we shouldn’t have given away, so the message is clear - let's get the basics right. We have a style of playing and we want to stick to it. We play football, and we're good on the eye, but we can't be scoring three and four every week to win games.”

Time and again in recent campaigns, the Championship has proved to be an unpredictable and highly competitive division, and Deery is expecting the same again this year.

“What happens is that most teams ask questions with a style of football that you probably don't see now on TV,” he agreed. “The Championship still asked you those questions. Can you dig in? Can you head the ball? Can you win tackles? Can you defend your box? So, we have all those questions to be answered yet, but, in terms of playing football and then doing things right in training, people putting the effort in and numbers coming to training and people applying themselves properly in the off-season, we've got all that. We just have to get tidy up now and tighten up with our group to be really hard to beat.”

Deery’s captain is again Kennedy, who now has 10 goals in just 16 appearances for the club. The former Charlton Athletic man is leading by example, and Deery wants others to follow in his footsteps.

“Mikhail obviously came in January and he got the armband then. I’m delighted with the way he's been about the pitch,” he said.

“He's a great lad. He's fully at it and he's there for the project and what we're trying to do. He’s captain of the club. Obviously, we would like more leaders on the pitch as well because it’s not just about one armband.

“The next thing for me this weekend is we have to show leadership, because, when we lost Niall, early in the first half; he had leadership quality. He's got that experience of playing on the Championship and Irish Premiership. So, we have to let the young boys show their voice and show that they're ready to compete for the top end of the Championship again, because, that's what we're here for.”