Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins expecting backlash from wounded St Patrick's Athletic

The Candy Stripes blew the Dubliners away with a sensational first half performance in Inchicore when the teams last met but the Saints bounced back in formidable fashion with a 4-0 win of their own against manager Tim Clancy's former side Drogheda United last weekend.

In-form ex-Bolton striker Eoin Doyle, Darragh Burns, Billy King and teenage forward Kyle Robinson were all on the scoresheet, evidence of the attacking talent Clancy has at his disposal. And Higgins believes his side must be fully prepared to meet that attacking threat 'head on' when the teams reengage in battle on Monday night at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium (K.O. 7.45pm).

"They've had an absolutely brilliant win and responded the way I felt they would," said the Derry boss. "They will be full of confidence. Last Friday (the 4-0 defeat to Derry) is forgotten now and they've responded the way they would've liked.

"We didn't get carried away with our win at Richmond Park because we know the quality they have in their team. You see the attacking talent they have and they will come here and have a go at us but we have to meet it head on and try and get a big three points at home.

"We know they will come up here with the bit between their teeth so we'll have to get ready for whatever they throw at us. We have a couple of days to recover but we'll go and try and win the game on Monday."

Derry failed to capitalise on that morale-boosting victory over St Pat's as they were held by Bohemians at home last Friday night but Higgins is confident his team can rediscover their goalscoring touch on Monday night.

"Of course we possess a real goal threat too and it's important for us to keep the momentum going. We have players who can hurt any team and we will definitely go into the game looking to be positive and trying to win it."