Derry City vs. Shamrock Rovers tickets sell out in just EIGHT minutes!
Ruaidhri Higgins admits that there is no hiding the significance of this week’s game against Shamrock Rovers.
The champions come to the Brandywell his Friday knowing a win will make them odds on favourites to become the first League of Ireland team to win four league titles in a row since the Hoops last did it in the eighties.
In contrast, a Derry City victory would close the gap between the top two to a single point with six games remaining, and increase the chances of a first Candystripes title win in 26 years.
It is a huge game for both teams, with the Brandywell already sold out as Derry City fans snapped up all available online tickets in just eight minutes. Higgins, who has watched his team win four of their last five games, is just as enthusiastic about the game.
"There is no point dressing it up any other way, it is a big game, it is a really big game,” he said. “It is one that is to be embraced and enjoyed and I'm sure it will be built up over the next week or so and rightly so.
"We are confident we'll take on anybody at the minute. We will obviously respect them the way they deserve to be respected but we will be going to win the game. I think the way we are playing, I have no doubts we can do it.”
Following last week’s 5-0 win at UCD, Derry City players are now in the middle of a nine-day rest period before they face Rovers, a timely break after such a heavy schedule in recent months. From July 7, when they defeated Sligo Rovers 2-1 at the Brandywell, Derry City have played 13 games in just 61 days, covering the league, the Europa Conference League and the FAI Cup.
“We have put ourselves in the position that some mightn't have thought we would so we have to go and try to grasp it and take the opportunity that is presenting itself,” Higgins said.
“"If you had offered this to me three or four months ago when things weren't going brilliantly, then absolutely. What have we taken, 13 from our last 15 points in the league and scoring a lot of goals. The players deserve huge, huge credit and the good thing is we are going into the Rovers game in really good form.
"We will prepare. As I said, we will give the players a couple of days off, they deserve it; we don't have a game for nine days and have had a gruelling few months so a few days off to recharge and come back ready for a big game.”
Another positive for Higgins is that his players are finding the net with regularity again, a problem area for the team for most of the season.
"It is confidence and players playing with belief,” Higgins stated. “I think in (Danny) Mullen and (Paul) McMullan we've added real quality at the top end and we have more strength in depth in those areas. When there is pressure on people to stay in the team you find it can take players up levels.
"We know we have a really good group and it is even more pleasing when you see who we didn't have on the pitch tonight. I am delighted for the players.”
Will Patching has certainly played his part in that recent glut of goals, scoring four in the last two games at Dundalk and UCD.
"The last two months, from the Sligo game at home when he came on and scored a penalty in the last minute; I think from that point onwards it has been his best period of form that I have seen from him,” Higgins explained. “Over the last couple of months, he has been brilliant. he's happy, he's enjoying his football. He's injury free and he's playing with freedom and he is a top end player when he is in that mindset.”
Excitement building
The excitement for this week’s game is already evident with online ticket sales selling out in just eight minutes. The fans are ready, and Higgins feels his players are in prime condition heading into the biggest game of the year.
“I am really proud of the players because a few months ago we were in a tricky position,” he continued. “We weren't at our best, every game felt like a grind but now we are playing with confidence and freedom. We are scoring goals and I'm really proud the players keep digging in. They have stuck at it, stuck at it and they are getting their rewards.”
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley was in attendance at the Belfield Bowl last Wednesday to see Derry City up close, but that was irrelevant to Higgins when asked what Bradley’s thoughts might have been on City’s five-star showing.
"I don't know. I don't have a clue,” he said. “Listen, we wanted to put on a show for ourselves and we have scored five goals and played some really good stuff.
"Brian Maher, by the way, made an absolutely outstanding save at 1-0. I was right behind it and had the best view in the house, it was an outstanding save to get it around the post. Games change on moments and that was a huge moment for us and we grew from it.”