Foster urges players to have a crack

Date Published: 03-Apr-2009

GALWAY United manager Ian Foster is calling on his players to use tonight’s game against Derry City in the Brandywell (kick-off 7.45pm) to show how far they have progressed from the season-long relegation dogfight the club endured last season.

United have made a great start to the 2009 campaign, and were only knocked off the top of the division after playing out a scoreless draw with Connacht rivals Sligo Rovers last weekend, and Foster said the trip to the Brandywell will provide an early yardstick of where his squad is for the 2009 campaign.

“Derry are well-drilled, they are a big, strong, organised side and you would think they will be the side to challenge Bohemians for the league this season, so it is a great opportunity for us to show where we are in the league this season,” Foster said.

In a Q&A session with Setanta Sports during the week, United ‘keeper Barry Ryan named Mark Farren as the one player who always seems to score against him, but he won’t have to worry about him tonight as the Derry striker serves a one game suspension for four yellow cards picked up last season.

Derry will also be missing defensive giant Clive Delaney, who was sent off against Shamrock Rovers last week, but Foster jokes that he has difficulty finding sympathy for the Candystripes. “You look at the quality they have, Mark McChrystal and Sammy Morrow will come in for those two – I’m not exactly feeling sorry for them when they have that kind of quality to call on,” he laughed.

Foster is…