Preview: Drogheda United vs. Derry City

He seems to have clicked with the players, and I can not wait to work with him personally.

This season, the Candystripes are anticipated to contend for championships once more, and the manager is well aware that losing games to teams in the lower half of the standings last season proved to be costly in the end.

To be honest, we have talked about it. We have had the greatest away record in the league the last two years, but we gave up too many points at home early in the previous season.

“Sure, things got better in the summer, but realistically, to do anything, you have to dominate at home and shut out teams.”

It will not be simple, though; I believe that this year, more than any other, the two recently promoted teams are both very talented teams, making the league fiercely contested.

When asked about the challenge on Friday night, he replied that he knew it would be a tough one.

“Under Kevin Doherty’s direction, Drogheda has improved significantly in recent years.

Now that they are in control, they most likely have a little more money than they did before. They have consistently hired fairly, and they have done so well. They have always recruited with extreme cunning.

“They have undoubtedly given us issues in the past. Last year, we managed seven points out of a possible twelve against them, and we may have scored fewer the year before.

“We have to be sharp from the off because we are playing at home against one of the toughest teams in the league. They are always well-prepared.

In terms of team news, the hosts’ situation appears to be excellent.

We are not too bad; we always knew that Diallo would be out for seven or eight weeks, and Colm Whelan is still a ways off.

“Ciaron Harkin is almost there right now, but we will need to gradually build him up over the next few games and minutes.

“Aside from that, we have almost the entire complement at our disposal.