Higgins: Rovers worthy champions, but Derry closing the gap

Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins has called on his team to put in a performance on Sunday against newly-crowned title winners Shamrock Rovers and insists the gap between the sides is narrowing.

Stephen Bradley's side sealed a third league title on the trot by virtue of the Candystripes inability to win away at Sligo Rovers, and while they were always up against it to deny Rovers further domestic success, Higgins had hoped to at least prolong the race until Sunday’s meeting of the top two at Tallaght Stadium.

A goalless draw at the Showgrounds put paid to that, and coming off the back of Friday’s home draw with Shelbourne, it means a 20th league title for Rovers is sealed before the visit of the Candystripes.

"We wanted to go down there and keep it interesting. That was the plan. That was what we wanted from Friday/Monday," Higgins said post-match.

Across league and cup this year, Derry have won two, drawn one and lost once against Rovers, but the consistency of the Dublin club over the course of the campaign was telling.

Higgins was fulsome in his praise for the champions, but believes his team are moving in the right direction and capable of bigger tilt at the title next year.

"Congrats to them," he said. "They have been the most consistent team. People have said they have stumbled the last while but if you look at the form guide, they haven’t really.

"They have had a couple of draws and won the majority of their games, but we know we are getting closer. The head-to-heads between us, we have been very good in.

"I think they know we are getting closer as well.

"It is important we go down there Sunday and show the level we are capable of."