Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan says the aim of the game in tonight’s play-off first leg at Drogheda United is to ‘keep it alive’.
Harps take on the Drogs at United Park tonight with the second leg of the promotion-relegation play-off at Finn Park on Friday.
Harps are fighting for Premier Division survival and Horgan is wary of Drogheda, who thumped Cabinteely 5-1 in the second leg of their First Division play-off on Friday.
“We’ll have our work cut out and we need to keep it alive,” said Horgan, who admitted that he would even take ‘a narrow defeat’ tonight.
“If we aren’t at ourselves, the tie could be over in the manner, the pace and confidence that Drogheda have at the moment. Drogheda were decent last year and they have improved.
“We’ve been in those shoes and we know that results breeds confidence. We have a difficult week ahead of us. We need to hang in and keep the tie alive.”
Horgan took in Friday’s game at United Park rather than his side’s 4-0 loss to Derry City at the Brandywell.
Last year, Harps defeated Drogheda in the First Division play-off before they defeated Limerick to make the leap into the top flight. Goals by John Kavanagh and Nathan Boyle gave Harps a 2-0 home win after Boyle netted in a 1-1 away draw.
Horgan said: “We didn’t really see them in the flesh since last year. They probably had a complete performance on Friday. They won 5-1 and it could have been more. They’re going well.”
Horgan says that Keith Cowan, Mark Coyle and Mark Timlin are ‘touch and go’ for the game with injuries.
He said: “We had a number who weren’t available on Friday. We’ll see, but Monday may be too soon, but we have to get this right and we need a side that can compete on Monday and again on Friday.”
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