Ruaidhrí Higgins staying cool ahead of more title drama

TITLE RACE: Ruaidhrí Higgins reckons Derry still aren't in must-win territory ahead of tonight's latest televised installment of the League of Ireland title race. Picture: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

Ruaidhrí Higgins reckons Derry still aren't in must-win territory ahead of tonight's latest televised installment of the League of Ireland title race nobody wants to win.

Derry entertain Sligo Rovers at the Brandywell, with a win seeing them leapfrog Shamrock Rovers in second and taking them top on goal difference from Shels.

A 1-1 draw with Bohemians on Friday night was Derry's latest missed chance to set down a title marker and they now have just one win in eight.

Even tonight's opponents Sligo can't be ruled out of contention in this bizarre title race. A win tonight would take them within a point of Derry. 

"Of course we want to win. If we win we go top of the table," Higgins said. "If we don't win, are we out of it? No. We're not. But all our intentions will be to win the game. If we can play like we did for large parts of the game tonight we give ourselves a good chance.

"We're very much about the next game. We're in a world now where every Tom, Dick and Harry can fire anything out there and it grows legs. It's important not to get caught up in that. We know what we're doing.

"We have good players, good staff and we trust what we're doing. Hopefully it's good enough come the end of the season. We're very driven by the next game and what we can do to win the next game and that's all that's in my mind at this moment in time.

"We will prepare for a massive game. Sligo hace had a brilliant season, absolutely brilliant season. We just have to try and focus on the positives from tonight and rectify what we didn't do so well and try and come up with a really good performance on Monday to get three points on the board."

In tonight's other game, St Patrick's Athletic can keep their charge towards the top on course when they visit Bohs. While the home side will look to put distance between themselves and Drogheda in the race to avoid a relegation play-off.