Derry City boss Tiernan Lynch seeking Celtic Park pride as Shamrock Rovers visit
TIERNAN Lynch hopes his Derry City team can match the historic occasion at Find Insurance Celtic Park tonight and 'give the fans something to be proud of' when they face table-toppers Shamrock Rovers.
The Candy Stripes were expected to be Rovers' main challengers for the title this term but instead find themselves trailing the Dubliners by 11 points after 12 matches.
That was largely due to a poor run of home results, where they won only twice in six matches during the opening two months of the season.
After a four-match run of away fixtures, they return to Foyleside but to unfamiliar territory at nearby Celtic Park - home of Derry GAA.
Normally Lynch would urge his players to play the game - not the occasion. However, with a bumper attendance expected, the City manager understands the importance of producing an impressive performance worthy of the off-field efforts.
"Our job is to build on last week and give the fans something to be proud of," said the Brandywell boss. "That would mean a lot to us. It [a win] would be massive for our confidence and massive for the players.
"Regardless of where you go and where you play it's always about a game of football. It's about 90 minutes. You always tell the players not to play the occasion, but to concentrate on playing the game.
"However, there's no doubt that coming to something like this and getting the numbers we're hoping for, along with this opportunity is a great for everyone.
"And great credit has to go to the club and the association [FAI] for coming together to make this happen. Hopefully, we can make Celtic Park a fortress for the four or five games we've got here.
"It's definitely a game we're looking forward to. I think there's extra excitement with the move to Celtic Park and the historical event that comes with this. We're quietly confident that we can build on last week's success, and the boys are looking forward to it."
It's been over four weeks since their last home fixture and Lynch is excited to get back in front of the home support who he believes can have a major bearing on the outcome of the match.
"We haven't been able to get home now for a number of weeks and I think the boys are looking forward to getting back, playing in front of a home crowd again and getting that support.
"I think that will make a massive difference to them. So I hope the fans come out in their numbers and get behind them and become that 12th man they always are."
It's also a chance to win over some new supporters and showcase what the club is all about.
"I think that's massive for us. Everybody knows how big this football club can be. We came here to try and deliver success.
"It hasn't been the start we wished for albeit we always knew bringing the players we brought in it would always take a little bit of time.
"The biggest thing I ask for is 100 per cent and commitment and I think we're getting that. Hopefully the results and performances will follow."
James McClean, Michael Duffy, Liam Boyce and Brian Maher are set to miss out through injury. While City skipper Duffy trained this week, Lynch reckons it could be another fortnight before he returns.
"It's too early for Mickey at this stage. He's probably a couple of weeks away albeit he's back on the grass. Not [full] training but running. Hopefully over the next two weeks we'll get Mickey back out there.”