Adam Hammill urges Derry City to show character in Sligo

Following Friday night’s heartbreaking stoppage time collapse against Bohemians, Hammill warned Derry must now show character to quickly turn around their fortunes, starting tonight against Sligo Rovers.

Talk of securing European football for next season is on the backburner with Derry sitting seventh, seven points behind third placed Waterford.

Declan Devine’s men remain perilously close to the relegation playoff spot but Hammill insists it’s now time for players to take responsibility and show the appetite and desire to win at the Showgrounds.

“We’ve got a game coming on Tuesday and then Friday and we need six points,” said the Liverpudlian. “We’re under no illusions now, it’s going to be difficult and we’re in a fight.

“It’s time to show real character, we’ll see who wants to wear the jersey and who wants to perform.”

The manner of defeat against Bohemians on Friday hurt for the players and Hammill, who fouled Andre Wright in the build-up to the winning goal on 95 minutes, accepted his own role in the result.

“You can imagine the mood in the dressing room, everyone is devastated. For large parts of the game we were dominant.

“We kept the ball well and were resolute in defence. As soon as it went into injury time it was just frantic and they got two late goals.

“It was very disappointing. I think we played really well right up until the 90th minute and they scored two late goals.

“I thought Eoin’s (Toal) header was in from the corner and at 2-0 I think it’s game over. But we’ve got to see the game out better.

“We had two costly errors with the penalty and I’ve given a silly foul away. I’m experienced and should know better than that,” he conceded. “At the time everyone was frustrated and emotions were high. I thought I could nick the ball but unfortunately the lad has got there.

“All game we’ve dealt with anything they put in the box and collectively as a team we’ve let ourselves down.

“We’ve got to be ruthless in both boxes. Whether that’s defending set-pieces or taking our chances.

“We created a few good chances today but at the end of the day we’ve come away with nothing. That’s football - it’s up and down.

“All we can do is dust ourselves off and show the right attitude and appetite now. As I said, we’re in a fight now.

“We’ve also got to take responsibility because it’s not good enough to go into 90 minutes 1-0 up and to concede two goals - we know that.

“Tuesday’s game comes around quick so we can put that right but we need wins and we need wins soon.”