Ruaidhri Higgins - "This is an unbelievably powerful football club when everyone is sailing in the one direction.'

Derry City vs. Bohemians

Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Friday, 7:45pm

Ruaidhri Higgins insists that tomorrow night's game against Bohemians will be a completely different challenge to the FAI Cup semi-final at Dalymount Park last week. 

The Candystripes find themselves in the unusual position of facing the same opposition twice in eight days, and although impressive in last Friday’s FAI Cup semi-final victory, Higgins knows it will be a different challenge altogether against Alan Reynold’s side tomorrow night.

“That'll be a completely different game, I'm sure,” he stated. “Obviously, it was a good outcome for us and Bohs will be disappointed, so I'm sure they'll use their hurt from last week and use the hurt from that they put into this game. I've seen an awful lot of Bohs in recent times, particularly at Dalymount, where they've been really, really good. Results at times just haven't gone their way, but they've had some big results as well.

“They've had good results against Rovers and Shels so they'll come here with absolutely no fear, I'm sure of that. We'll give them the respect they deserve because they're a good team and get ready to go again.”

There has been a feel-good factor around the city following the semi-final victory, with fans busily buying cup final tickets and booking hotels this week. But for Higgins, the cup final is not a factor at the moment.

“I'll be really, really honest with you,” he explained. “We've had this conversation with the players that the Cup Final is the last thing on my mind. We'll deal with that when it comes around. Obviously, it's a phenomenal achievement given the route that we've had to take to get there. It's an amazing achievement to get there, but it's the last thing on my mind. I've had to tell my friends on WhatsApp groups to shut their mouths because I'm not interested in stuff like that.

“Listen, it's brilliant for supporters. It's brilliant for everyone to talk about and all that, but we can't get sidetracked. There's too much at stake. We have to be the professionals that we are and focus on a massive four days, certainly Bohemians coming up. We're at the business end now. We know what's at stake and as I said, I'm sure it'll be another sell-out here and we have to bring our A game and try and get a big three points on the board.”

Derry City will go top of the Premier Division this weekend if they claim maximum points from tomorrow’s game against Bohs and Monday night’s game against Sligo Rovers. With every point now vital, this could be the weekend that Higgins and his players take control of the title race.

“We're in a really strong position in the league so you'd expect that you'd expect the place to be bouncing on Friday and I'm sure it will be,” he said.

“Every single point every win you can get between now and the end of the season is so, so important and we've a couple of home games here that we need to try and capitalise on again starting on Friday night against difficult opposition.

“I think this is an unbelievably powerful football club when everyone is sailing in the one direction and that's the way it feels at this minute in time and as I said when that happens we're a powerful club so hopefully it can remain between now and November the 10th.”