AS THE season now heads into its final third, manager Ollie Horgan says Finn Harps are competing in a mini League with Wexford Youths and Longford Town.
Harps, who have lost their last three games, host Derry City at Finn Park this evening, and are in need of a return to winning ways.
In the defeats to Bray Wanderers, Wexford Youths and Bohemians, Harps haven’t scored and the three reversals were against teams beneath them in the table at the time of the game.
Harps are eight points ahead of Wexford, who occupy the play-off spot and have 13 points to spare on Longford, who are in the automatic relegation slot.
[adrotate group=”38″]“Take us, Longford and Wexford: That’s our league,” Horgan told Donegal Sport Hub.
“That’s why the defeat to Wexford was so disappointing.
“The biggest disappointment was the Wexford game because Wexford, if you like, are in our league. Bohs and Bray have been in false positions.
“It’s not all about us, Longford and Wexford, but Bray have got their act together and are a smashing side. The same with Bohemians so the fight for survival is between the three of us.
[adrotate group=”50″]“If we’d played against Wexford like we did in Dalymount we’d probably have got something out of it.
“Ultimately, though, we need to be better.”
Harps had their moments against Bohemians on Friday night in Dublin, but Jake Kelly and Ismahil Akinade netted in a 2-0 win for the Gypsies.
Harps will be without the suspended Ruairi Keating and the injured Gareth Harkin and Damien McNulty when Derry, the Division’s third-placed team, visit Finn Park.
Horgan said: “We need to get points on board. We’ve just lost to three teams who were below us in the table before we played them. Now, we’re going into games against teams who are above us. It’s hugely difficult.
“It’s difficult where we are, but we’re delighted that we have the points on board that we do. It may have been more difficult to try and bridge the gap rather than holding it.”
Harps haven’t lost a derby game this year against either Derry or Sligo Rovers, but Horgan believes Derry will ask serious questions this evening in Ballybofey.
[adrotate group=”37″]On the season’s opening night, Dave Scully and Ryan Curran scored in a 2-1 win for Harps and at the Brandywell it took a Sean Houston header to rescue a 2-2 draw for Horgan’s men.
The Harps manager said: “The approach is the same as the approach for any game.
“We’re up against it. We’re playing a team that is in the top three for a reason. Derry have had a brilliant season.
[adrotate group=”76″]“If you look at the game at the Brandywell, especially the second half, they got it wide and destroyed us.
“One thing that a lot of people don’t seem to see with Derry is their work-rate. On top of ability – and they have plenty of that – they absolutely work their back sides off.
“They aren’t just Fancy Dans playing – they are a proper, full-time football team.”
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