Carl Winchester says Derry City must stand up and fight against Dundalk

​For under-fire Derry City boss Tiernan Lynch the pressure is intensifying as the Belfast man looks to end a six-match winless run when he takes his charges to in-form Dundalk at Oriel Park tonight.

Following a dismal run of results over the Easter holidays - during which Derry accumulated just one point from games against Galway United and Sligo Rovers - the feeling amongst the Derry fanbase appears to have shifted from anger to apathy.

Ten points from 10 games and securing only two wins in those opening fixtures has left the Brandywell club's chances of challenging for the league title hanging by a thread, even for the most optimistic City supporters as they trail early pacesetters St Pat’s by 10 points.

Stand-in skipper Winchester admits confidence is at a low ebb but he's been in plenty of high-stakes situations and reckons they can turn around their fortunes if they can firstly 'win the fight' against the Lilywhites.

The ex-Shrewsbury Town captain states Derry must simply 'handle the pressure' and battle their way out of their current predicament.

"Playing for a club like Derry City you're always going to be under pressure to perform and that's why, as a player, you want to come to these big clubs," said Winchester who missed four matches before returning as a second half sub against Galway last Friday night.

"It's easy going to a club where the ambition is to stay in the league. You want to go to clubs where the ambition is to win a cup or win the league, where you have to win every game and perform.

"That just drives standards and gets the best out of people. “Pressure makes diamonds, and the bigger the club you're at you're going to have to handle the pressure.

"In terms of results, we know they just haven't been good enough. Everyone accepts it hasn't been nearly good enough. Nowhere near the standards we set ourselves.

"We just have to put it behind us and focus on the next challenge and it's going to be a tough test on Friday in Dundalk. We need to go there and do our best to get a win."

The Derry dressing room can attempt to block out the outside noise but there's no hiding from the growing agitation on Foyleside.

"We are underperforming massively this season," agreed Winchester. "There were a lot of expectations from everyone and we just haven't hit those heights yet.

"He [Lynch] keeps getting on to us and knows what we're capable of.

"Obviously, based on current form and the way it's going you'd probably say we're miles off it and the league table doesn't lie. At the minute we are. But you could put a run of games together and get the confidence going.

"You have players who have been about this legaue and know what it's about and they can get us to where we want to be.

"It's about digging out those 1-0 wins until everyone gets that confidence back and then start to showcase what we're all about.

"At the minute it's just about grinding out results, keeping clean sheets and the most important thing is winning the fight. If we get start wining a couple then that's when the confidence can start to show."

"When you're winning every week it just seems like everything is going your way. But when you're down there – and I've been in relegation battles throughout my career – everything that can go against you goes against you.

"It's down to characters as well. You have to be a strong character and stand up to the fight.

"You must win the fight. We have a talented bunch of players but right now, things just aren't going our way. It's about grinding out those results, winning the fight first and taking it from there."

Winchester found it 'horrible' watching from the sidelines and being unable to affect results before making his comeback over Easter. He almost scored a goal that would have considerably eased the pressure against Sligo Rovers when his 35 yard effort hit the woodwork.

It was a 'proud' moment to wear the armband in that match, even if it was 'probably the worst game of football I've ever played in my life'.

"It's been horrible. You just want to be out there helping the lads out and I'm one of those players who doesn't like missing football whatsoever when I'm injured.

"I'm probably one of those players that can probably get a bit more out of the lads when I'm on there in terms of using my experience and know-how from what I've been through in my career.

"There's a low confidence around the squad at the moment but it's up to me and the other experienced players in the group to talk to the lads and tell them that tough times in football don't last if you put in the hard work.

"We have a group of lads here willing to put in that hard work and I'm sure the results will start to turn.

"It means everything to me to captain Derry City," he enthused. "I know the fans bleed it and want the club to do so well. Every club I've been at I will give 100 per cent even at times when I'm not at my best. I will give it my all and captaining the team on Monday was a real proud moment for me."

The Belfast man is braced for a tough test against 'surprise packages' Dundalk who have scored freely of late and scored early in games.

"It shows you what momentum can do. They won the league last season and brought that into this season. Winning becomes a habit as well as losing becomes a habit.

"You can see why they're doing well. They look like a team that's all together, working hard for each other and doing the nitty gritty stuff and doing it really well.

"They've been the surprise package but it's probably no fluke because they're all honest lads and working hard for each other and taking on board what the manager is telling them.

"They've come up and held their own and it just shows you what a bit of momentum and confidence can do."