Derry City will look to recover from the Setanta Cup final defeat to Crusaders when visit Gortakeegan to take on bottom of the Airtricity Premier Division table Monaghan United tonight.
The Candystripes were beaten 5-4 on penalties in the cross-border competition decider and have slipped to eight in the league following last Friday’s results.
Declan Devine’s men can move back into the top half with victory over Monaghan and as they trail leaders Sligo Rovers by 15 points already, victory is a must if they are to rescue any hopes of challenging for the title.
Monaghan have been hit by financial difficulties and appealed to their supporters to help out, while league form has been equally as bleak.
One win in 10 matches leaves Roddy Collins’ side four points behind Dundalk ahead of tonight’s game.
Collins will have a strong panel to select from with Keith Quinn the only confirmed absentee through suspension. Paul Whelan, John Reilly and Robert Bayly are doubtful because of injury.
Collins believes his side will improve as Monaghan finish their first series of matches: “I now know the qualities of each of the other sides in the Premier Division. The sides close to us in the table are established squads and I don’t see most of them improving.
“In this next series we will have most of the leading sides at home and I am confident of reversing the results from many of the games in the first round. It only requires a couple of good results to lift us off the bottom, something that is well within our capabilities.”
Derry will be missing Stewart Greacen (knee), Kevin Deery (Knee) and Mark Farren (hamstring).
Manager Declan Devine feels this game could herald a fresh start for his side. "We need to forget about the result on Saturday and dust ourselves down and get on with the job at hand.
"Yes the squad are all every disappointed with the outcome but it's back to the bread and butter stuff now. Results haven't gone our way over the last couple of weeks but I feel they will turn for us.
“We will go to Monaghan expecting a tough, physical game against a team that has had a week off and should be well rested.
"If we get the three points today I feel this will be a fresh start we need to start to put a couple of results together and move up the table where we belong".
