Homing in on success!

The ‘Candy Stripes’ are the only Premier Division side to have won all their home matches with five victories from five in all competitions since the start of the campaign.

One of those wins was that comfortable 2-0 EA Sports Cup victory over the Bit O’Red last week but Derry boss, Shiels expects his opposite number, Dave Robertson, to use that defeat as motivation to end City’s nine game unbeaten run this evening.

“I know David (Robertson) wasn’t happy with his players after the last match at Brandywell and I’m sure he will be reminding them of that,” said Shiels.

“If I was in their dressing room I would be thinking this is a great opportunity to redress that performance and make sure we come out on top this time. So there’s going to be that energy coming from them. It will be a tough game but, hopefully, we can get it over the line.”

Home form has been the key to Derry’s early season success and Shiels is determined to keep that run going having eased off the pedal in training this week as the players felt the effects of playing three games in six days.

“We’re a lot fresher this week albeit we have four players missing, but we’re fresher,” added Shiels. “We haven’t had anything competitive since the Bohs game.”

And he’s looking forward to a third straight home match given the club’s form on Foyleside.

“If you could win 12 of your 16 home games, then that’s 36 points so it’s a great opportunity to get further up the table. if you win at home.

“We’ve won four out of four and won one in the cup which is five out of five. We’ve conceded one goal in five games here.

“We have to make sure we have that fight within us as Sligo are a dangerous opponent.”