Dipo Akinyemi warns Derry City will be 'frightening' when they click

However, the striker [28] insists it 'will be very frightening' when the misfiring Candy Stripes eventually click given the talent in the squad.

The Londoner understands the frustrations on Foyleside as Derry languishes in the bottom half of the table after 11 games but he reckons some of the criticism has been 'a bit harsh' since luck seems to be flowing only one way.

The only control Derry has over bad luck is how they respond to it and the former York City man insists the players haven't been 'moping about'. He's confident everything will 'fall into place' once they secure that elusive win.

"I mean, it [criticism] has been a bit harsh but at the end of the day, Derry City is Derry City and fans have high expectations for success," said Akinyemi. "Especially with the amount of players we brought in.

"If you can tell me a team that's been successful after bringing in 10 or 11 players plus straight away then maybe I'll hold my hands up but it just doesn't happen over a few months.

"This is stuff you have to build. You have to build connections. The team is always rotating so we haven't been able to field our best 11 per se.

"So many people are coming back from injury—even myself coming back from being out five months. I'm not going to be as sharp as I was last season when I played against Bohs away.

"I'm not going to be that person yet. It's going to take some time but unfortunately, sometimes time isn't on your side and you have to get some wins on the board.

"The boys aren't sitting around waiting for it to happen or moping around. We're putting in the graft. Everyone who goes out on that pitch on a Friday night is putting their best efforts out there. We have to keep working. We have some really good players in the dressing room, and I think it will be very frightening when everything clicks well."

While plenty of performances and results this season were not due to chance, and Akinyemi won't take accountability away from the players or management, he did point out some of the wonder strikes or misfortune that have left them in this precarious situation.

"If people are seeing the goals we've conceded, I'm sure half of them are contenders for goal of the season.

"We played Drogheda at home - two worldies. We played Bohs - a free-kick from 30 yards. Dundalk score a shot from 25 yards that hits the post and goes in. There's only so long these goals can keep going in against us.

"We played Galway and he [David Hurley] takes a free-kick under the wall with his left foot, then hits the rebound with his right and it comes off the post and goes in."

Winning teams somehow make their own luck agrees Akinyemi. "I mean, luck is not on our side but we've got to make our own luck. “I think once we get that monkey off our back and get that first win, maybe back-to-back wins, that's when you'll see some free-flowing football.

"I feel we're in a lot of games and create a lot of chances and we just have to keep working. I think it's going to click."

Perhaps we've already seen signs of improvement from Akinyemi himself as he netted his second goal of the season to put Derry 2-1 up at Oriel Park in half-time stoppage time.

Akinyemi scored three goals in seven games after his summer arrival at Derry last year but his season was cut short by injury against Shelbourne at Brandywell last September.

It's been five long months of rehabilitation and he's yet to play a full 90 minutes this term but he's a lot happier after getting his name on the scoresheet last week.

"You always feel much happier when you score as a striker. It's just something to build on really.

"I was carrying a bit of a groin strain but it's one of those things I'll have to manage and keep at it and keep building on trying to score goals and get back on the scoresheet."

The striker probably didn't get enough credit for his clever finish and positional awareness against Dundalk; he wrong-footed Enda Minogue when diverting Ben Doherty's shot into the net.

"It's a striker's goal isn't it? You just put yourself in a position where you think the ball might fall.

"It's hit the wall and come back to Ben and then come through. With those sorts of goals, you see them all the time where you just need to change the trajectory of where the ball is going because you know the keeper is committed to it.

"I got myself back onside and put it in the net. I would happily score 10 to 15 of those a season if I could," he smiled.

His two cousins, who live in Dundalk, were there to watch him score and he's hoping they turn up at Tolka Park on Friday - perhaps they can be his lucky charm!

"Those are my first cousins. They live in Dundalk and it was nice to see them. They've lived here for quite a while.

"I used to visit Ireland quite a bit too,” he revealed. “It was really good for them to come see me play. They've seen me play in England a few times but it was good for them to see me play over here and score a goal. I might ask them to come to the next game.

"You just keep knocking away at the goals and get yourself in good positions and that's what I did for that goal. It's about building on those games now and hopefully we can get some wins on the board soon. Hopefully things fall into place."

Akinyemi understands the importance of winning at Tolka Park, especially with the move to Celtic Park and a meeting with Shamrock Rovers next as Derry attempts to improve the mood.

"I think bringing three points back home and then coming to play at Celtic Park would be massive.

"Credit to the fans that even turned up to Dundalk. They didn't even have a stand over them and we appreciate what they do for us.

"As long as we keep working and the fans stick with us I think we will be in good stead."