Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins feels as his squad is getting stronger and fitter, results and performances are improving and he believes there is still a lot more to come in the final quarter of the season.
The Brandywell men produced a top drawer performance to deservedly see off bottom side Drogheda United, at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, on Friday night.
After Cameron Dummigan’s early goal, which was cancelled out by Adam Foley, Derry never looked back after Will Patching’s penalty, before Daniel Kelly, Pat Hoban and Ciaran Coll all netted in the second half. “I’ve always believed when players got fitter and we were introducing people back into the team, it was always going to take them a number of games to get into top shape and I think we’re seeing that now,” insisted Higgins.
“You’ve (Sadou) Diallo back, I thought it was his best performance as he came back into the team.
“Dummigan’s in good form. We brought him back into the team and lads are getting fitter and sharper, aye, I think we’re just in a good position at the minute.
“Confidence is high, we’re enjoying our football. There’s a good spirit in the dressing room but you also have to work hard to maintain that and double down on what we’re doing at the minute and really focus on the next game because I feel we’ve done that really well recently.” The Limavady man was thrilled by City’s display against Kevin Doherty’s side and he was thrilled that winger Daniel Kelly opened his goalscoring account for the club and having five different goalscorers also pleased him.
“It is a great win and five different goal scorers, which is brilliant,” he explained. “The game wasn’t as straightforward as it might seem. “There was maybe a dubious one to make it 2-2 but we’ve gone down the other end and put the game to bed soon after it.
“I thought we were clinical. I thought, at this moment in time, we look a real attacking and threat and obviously, we didn’t have Michael Duffy. He was on the bench tonight because he’s had a wee niggle and he’s been sick for a few days, so we had him there just in case we needed him in an emergency, but we looked like a real attacking threat tonight and and again I’m delighted for Daniel Kelly.
“He’s had a difficult start to his time at the club but I think progressively he’s got better. He was a real threat tonight and got a great goal so I’m delighted for him.
“It’s brilliant for Daniel and as I said he’s had a tough opening period in his time at the club and to be honest, he’s been carrying a bit of tendonitis in his knee as well and he’s been playing through it.
“He has progressively got better I feel and I thought tonight he put in a really good display, some of us crossing in the first half and second half was really good.
“He looked like a real threat, making good runs and scoring a brilliant goal. His first touch with his head out in front and he’s put it away, and that’s what I know that he’s capable of and he’s done it for years. Hopefully that’s a start for him here.”
Derry’s victory combined with champions Shamrock Rovers’ shock loss at Sligo Rovers, means the Foylesiders are 13 points clear of the Tallaght men and leaders Shelbourne still a massive 15 points ahead of Stephen Bradley’s side, but Higgins doesn’t feel it’s a two horse race.
“I don’t know. I know they lost tonight (Friday) so obviously Sligo will be buoyant and re-energised from that win so Thursday night’s for us is gonna be really difficult whether it’s a two horse race or not.
“Listen, we just focus on ourselves and I’ll give you the old boring answer. When you make silly statements, it can bite you on the backside so I won’t be making any rash statements because of the quality Shamrock Rovers have.”