Georgie Kelly prepared for 'cup final' against Derry City at Brandywell

Eighth placed Saints are without a win in their last five outings and meet an equally inconsistent Derry team who are level on points but whom occupy sixth spot on goal difference.

While both teams remain precariously close to the relegation play-off spot, they still harbour hopes of qualifying for European football this season.And so Saints striker, Kelly admits there’s plenty at stake when the Dubliners arrive on Foyleside tonight.

“It’s a massive game,” he insisted. “It’s a cup final for us.

“If you can put a couple of wins together, next thing you’re well up the table and you’re comfortable.

“All it takes is a little run of games, a few wins and suddenly you’ve turned things around.

“It’s a massive game for us - a cup final and I’m sure it’s probably the same for Derry who are also struggling for a bit of consistency themselves.

“It’s a huge game for both of us.”

Despite picking up just two points from their last four league matches, Burnfoot native, Kelly isn’t pressing the panic button and is confident Stephen O’Donnell’s men will turn it around.

“We’re not getting too down about results over the last couple of weeks. Against Waterford it was a strange game and I thought we were very unfortunate not to beat Sligo.

“We’ve shot ourselves in the foot a few times this season by conceding terrible goals. In this league when you concede goals it really changes games.

“Against Bohs, we conceded a horrible goal from 40 or 50 yards and then they could just sit in and it changed the game massively.

“If we can cut that out - that’s been our main focus - then we can try to chip in with a few goals.”

A lack of goals in recent matches has been a concern for the Inchicore outfit who haven’t found the net since Kelly’s double against Finn Harps back in early August.

Robbie Benson is the only other Pat’s player to find the net since the season’s resumption on July 31st.

However, the former Candy Stripe, who was linked with a return to Brandywell before the restart, is confident the goals will come.

“We hit the post three times against Sligo but a lot of it is about gelling together and I’m still getting used to players and movements and types of crosses certain players would put in. I find that a factor.

“At Dundalk I would’ve been used to what the likes of Mickey Duffy would do and could read passes and crosses.

“It just takes a bit of time but I do think it’s starting to work, hopefully.”