Jack Malone happy to play in any position and insists Derry City will have St Pat’s game plan

Last season the Brandywell men went into the clash against Stephen O’Donnell’s side after a disappointing result and Malone hopes they can bounce back against the Saints this week.

When the season got back underway in 2020 after the Covid-19 shutdown, the Candy Stripes suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to the then winless Sligo Rovers, but Declan Devine’s team returned to winning ways themselves at St Pat’s thanks to goals from James Akintunde and Conor McCormack.

“We went down to St Pat’s last year off a bad result against Sligo Rovers and we went to St Pat’s and won 2-0,” he stated. “Listen, we are confident that when we go down on Friday, we’ll have a game plan and try to dig out the three points which we deserve and the fans need that as well.

“We need to get something on the board quickly, but to be honest every game this year is massive and there has been a few strange results already. So we’ll go to St Pat’s after doing the same as we did against Waterford, like working hard for each other and try to dig out the three points.”

The ex-Top of the Hill starlet doesn’t believe the team’s youthfulness is the reason for recent defeats and insists he’s happy enough to do a job for the team no matter what position he plays as long as he keeps getting into that starting eleven.

Malone, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Monday, also admits that everyone in the changing room is sticking together and backing each other.

“Yes, while we are a young enough squad, but as Decky said to us, there’s still plenty of experience in the team,” he explained. “You have got Danny Lafferty, Eoin Toal is in his fourth or fifth season, Darren Cole and Ciaran Coll are also experienced players, so we aren’t making any excuses.

“We aren’t blaming we are a young squad, we’ll take full responsibility and we’ll look to go again at St Pat’s. Listen if Decky wants me to play right-back or right-wing back I’m happy to help the team, but yeah as everyone knows I’m a central midfielder, but I can also play right-back as well, so as long as I play every game I’m happy to help the team.”

The tenacious midfielder, who came through the club’s academy, acknowledged that the home changing room was hurting after Friday night’s loss to Waterford.

“It’s devastating, because in my opinion we dominated the game, but we gave away two goals and at this level you’ll get punished,” he added.

“We are hurting in the changing room but we’ll regroup and stick tight as a group and go again on Friday. Everyone in the changing room is absolutely gutted. There are boys who took responsibility for the goals and that’s what we need as a group.

“We are all going to stick tight and aim to go again on Friday.”