McCormack delight as match goes according to script

Midfield mainstay, Conor McCormack, agreed that Derry don’t always perform to their best when they’re expected to brush aside unfashionable opposition.

Going into games against Finn Harps, Derry were expected to pick up six points but the Ballybofey men stunned them with a 2-1 win at Finn Park before clawing out a point with a last minute header at Brandywell.

Games against Sligo Rovers (0-2) and First Division Drogheda United (1-1) at Brandywell didn’t go to plan either while Derry needed to fight back from an early deficit to clinch a share of the spoils in Longford.

Carlingford native, McCormack, believes Derry are at their best when the odds are stacked against them so he was delighted Sunday’s result went with the form book as the ‘Candy Stripes’ easily accounted for Bray with two first half goals ending the contest.

“The manager mentioned beforehand that when we go into games as favourites we haven’t always won this season,” said McCormack. “We’ve won more games as underdogs, but thankfully we’ve come out on the right side of it (against Bray).

“It was important we got the win,” he added. “We’ve had a couple of tough weeks there so it was great to get the win.

“They threw a lot of lads up front in the second half and it was difficult with the heat, but the most important thing was we came out with three points and we can look forward to Galway on Friday night.

“The manager put it into our heads before we go out that we get off to a good start and get right at them.

“And so many times already this season we’ve scored early and gone on to win. That’s been an important part of our game this season.

“We have good quality all over the squad. The young lads have come in and done tremendously well when the experienced players are missing, so it’s good we have people who can come in an fill in just as good and score a few goals which helps us.”