​Patrick McClean urges Derry City fans to 'stick with us' ahead of double header

​The Creggan man understands the current mood amongst the majority of the fanbase who are growing increasingly agitated with performances during the season's opening five matches.

He hopes supporters understand how big a part they can play in helping the club navigate an early storm as they play their penultimate Brandywell fixture before moving to a temporary base at Celtic Park.

Friday's lacklustre display in the 1-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers and a return of seven points from a possible 15 have tempered the heightened expectation levels on Foyleside.

McClean has called for perspective with just five games gone but knows they must improve dramatically as they face into a significant three-match week against Shels, St Pat's and Drogheda.

"The last week was sort of a reflection on our season so far," admitted McClean. "It was probably a performance waiting to happen. We got out of the woods a couple of times and then we went down to Tallaght and it just didn't happen for us.

"They were better on the night. That's football but we've got two games now to put it right and get us going.

"It's about putting that to bed now and improving because it was nowhere near good enough from everyone."

Tiernan Lynch has been telling supporters that he's seeing green shoots in training as his new-look team start to find their feet but McClean understands why fans have grown sceptical over the past couple of weeks.

"I'm a Derry City fan as well and if I was in the stands I would be grumpy as well and wouldn't like it. Look, I'm a Man United fan and I'm screaming at the TV every week so I get it. I am a football fan as well as being a footballer, so I get it.

"But it's so early on at the minute and there's so much more football to play."

McClean is hoping a packed Brandywell crowd can make the difference.

"The good thing is we're not that far off,” he said. “Rovers are a point ahead of us now and we've got two successive games coming up and it's about building momentum.

"I don't think the fans realise the part they can play. If you look at the Sligo game on the first night, they sucked the ball into the back of the net. They were a massive part of us going on to win that game.

"The pitch is sh*t. We're not playing great at the minute, and that's when we need them. They really are a 12th man and it would just be nice to hear some positivity whenever things aren't going well rather than the moans and groans.

"It doesn't affect everybody but it affects certain individuals. My message would be: stick with us, get behind us and we will get this right."

The former Glentoran and Sligo Rovers centre half hopes the team can seize the opportunity to turn the narrative around with two positive results over a four-day double-header.

"Going and putting three points on the board at home in front of a packed Brandywell would be massive for us, especially against a good team like Shels.

"Ultimately, we're not worried about who we play, it's about us getting it right. The players we have in that dressing room are as good as, if not better than, everybody else.

"But it's all good me standing here saying that, we have to show it. We haven't done that yet but I believe, in time we will get this right and be hard to stop."

On Friday night they couldn’t get going but they were still less than 10 minutes from securing a first clean sheet of the season.

"If you look at the President's Cup we went down there and put on a great performance. They were probably thinking they owed us one. That showed on the night. They came out and had the fire in their belly whereas I don't think we did. They are the benchmark so to go down there and limit them was a positive.

"The penalty? I felt really bad on (Conor) ‘Barrso’ because he didn't really do much wrong. He was running alongside and clipped the lad, it happens. Ultimately that's cost us a clean sheet but it's about taking the positives.”