Ruaidhri Higgins: Derry City fans can help us secure a much-needed European win

Ruaidhri Higgins is hoping the supporters can be Derry's 12th man against HB Torshavn

Ruaidhri Higgins is hoping that the Derry City supporters can help get his team over the line in Thursday’s crucial Europa Conference League Qualifier against HB Torshavn.

Last week’s 0-0 draw in the Faroe Islands leaves the game on a knife-edge, but hopes are high that the Candystripes can make progress in European competition for the first time since 2014, when they defeated Welsh side Aberystwyth 9-0 on aggregate.

The Derry City boss has experienced first-hand the influence that the fans can have on major European nights, and he is hoping for the same again this evening, as the Candystripes attempt to progress past the first round in Europe for the first time in nine years.

“Playing in Europe is different in that you’re playing against opposition that you’re not used to coming up against so straight away it intrigues people,” he said. “I know our crowd will come here and get right behind the players and team and try to get us into the second round for the first time in a long term.

“The crowd helped us get over the line in the Sligo game, without a doubt. Our performance in the second half got them behind us, so we need to come with that level of intensity so the crowd react and that’s what we’ll try and do. We’ll need everyone in the ground to get this over the line.”

While Derry City had the better opportunities in the first leg, neither team were able to find a goal and that leaves the game still finely in the balance.

“We knew from the outset that it was 180 minutes,” Higgins continued. “They have won their last three European games at home so it was never going to be as straightforward as people think. From the 30-minute mark