Ollie Horgan insists that his Finn Harps players are staying positive as they look to stop the rot against St Patrick’s Athletic this evening (Finn Park, kick-off 5pm).
Harps head into the game having lost their last nine League games and are eight points from UCD, their nearest challenger at the foot of the table.
Harps have a lengthy injury list, which now includes Ciaran Gallagher, who was forced off during Friday’s 3-0 loss to Dudalk.
“We move on and the preparations are now geared towards (St Patrick’s Athletic) and despite everything our players are positive,” Horgan said.
“The lads put in a big shift in Dundalk but came up short. We were good enough in the first half and had a few chances but when Daniel Kelly scored for them just before half-time that really was really a big setback.
“When he got the second there wasn’t going to be happy ending for us.
“They will go out looking to get those three points that would give us all a big lift. But, it’s going to take our very best form to get a result because Pat’s have some fantastic players.
“With the quality that is in their squad I’m sure they are a little disappointed that they aren’t further up the table.
“Chris Forrester and Mikey Drennan who got the goals against Sligo Rovers on Friday night will take some watching so we’ll have to be better defensively than we have so far this season.”
Jacob Borg could return, while Sean Boyd may also be in contention, but Mark Timlin, Gareth Harkin and Harry Ascroft remain injured and Colm Deasy will be suspended for the next three games.
One of the only two points Harps obtained so far was against St Patrick’s Athletic earlier in the season.
“We know that Harps can be really tough opponents having drawn with us in Inchicore last time out,” Pat’s boss Harry Kenny said.
“Ollie Horgan will have his team well organised and Finn Park is always a tough place to play in as it traditionally is a real fortress for them.
“However we hopefully are going into the game with a bit of confidence and if we can show the same level we produced on Friday, we have a chance of coming away with a result.”
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