Derry City have a great opportunity to close the gap on league leaders St
Patrick's Athletic over the next few weeks, says manager Stephen Kenny.
They take on Cobh Ramblers at the Brandywell tonight (7.45pm) and follow
that up with games at home to UCD and down the road at Finn Harps.
"This game takes us a third of the way through the season and, if we
win it, we'll have 20 points," he said.
"That would be a respectable start, but we're really not in a position
to be talking about challenging for the eague title at this stage.
"We're unbeaten at home this season, but we need to start winning games
there rather than drawing them.
"These three matches coming up are games we know we can win and if we
do that it's an opportunity to make up some ground."
Derry have appealed defender Clive Delaney's two-match ban for his sending
off against Bray Wanderers last month and so he is able to play this
evening, pending that appeal.
Kenny says midfielder Ciaran Martyn, who has missed the last couple of
matches, could play a part at some stage but winger Paddy McCourt is still
out with a back injury.
Cobh aren't a side that Kenny is taking lightly.
"They have put together some good results recently and beat Shamrock
Rovers so it's not going to be a pushover," he said.
"It's the sort of game we need to win at home."
Derry still lie third in the table, despite not managing a win in any of
their last five outings, although they have lost only once so far this
season, that match against Bray.
City sit four points behind second place Bohemians and the gap now to Pat's
is eight.
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