Candystripes aware of what’s at stake in bid to end Euro drought, says Higgins

Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins will lead his side against HB Torshavn

Ruaidhri Higgins is hoping to lead Derry City to victory in Europe for the first time in almost a decade.

The Candystripes have not progressed in European competition since defeating Welsh side Aberystwyth 9-0 over two legs back in 2014, and have not won a game at all in Europe since 2018, when they secured victory away at Dinamo Minsk.

This time around, City have been drawn to face HB Torshavn from the Faroes (7.00pm kick-off tonight) , and hopes are high that the club can progress beyond this round. But Higgins (right) knows it will be easier said than done against a largely unknown opponent.

“The level of competition that we’re playing in will make sure that the players will be fully, fully focused on the job,” he said.

“We know how important it is to the football club, to the city, to the supporters. We know what’s at stake and I think the different competition will stimulate the players.

“We won’t be walking through town centres and sitting in coffee shops. We’ll be staying in the hotel, and having meetings on the opposition and we’ll be going to the stadium to train.

“We’ll be coming back then to do our normal thing then we’ll be going to the stadium to play a football match so the external factors won’t play a part because we’ll be in our own bubble.”

Higgins and his number two, Paddy McLaughlin visited the Faroes to see Torshavn in action first-hand last week, and he believes his team will have to be fully focused to get a result this evening.

“They are a technical team, tactically they like to play the right way and play through the thirds,” he continued.

“They have got good players, including a few internationals. Going by the bookies,