Kenny determined to see Derry keep tie alive

FK Skonto-Riga v Derry City:DERRY CITY goalkeeper Gerard Doherty has been passed fit to face FK Skonto-Riga in tonight's Europa League fixture in Latvia. But centre-half Clive Delaney will undergo a pre-match fitness test on a calf strain before his involvement in the game is confirmed.

Brandywell boss Stephen Kenny will hope to emulate the success he achieved when leading Derry in the Uefa Cup in 2006, but he realises he faces a trip into the unknown.

A total of 19 players travelled to Latvia with Liam Kearney (fractured leg), Mark McChrystal (fractured cheekbone) and Kevin Deery (calf tear) left behind in Ireland.

“While Skonto will be favourites, we feel we have a chance and we’ll be doing all in our power to keep the match alive for the second leg at the Brandywell next Thursday,” said Kenny.

“Riga have won their last five games and are one point off the top of their league. They’ve had the experience of playing big games in Europe in the past having played against Chelsea and Barcelona – maybe not this group of players – but the club has a young panel with a number of Latvian internationals who are experienced at European level.

“They have sold one of their strikers to Maccabi Haifa in recent weeks for €300,000 which is also significant. But I don’t think we can be fearful. We will not be set up just to contain and defend. I don’t think you can do that.

“Life is too short, you can’t sit and wait and hope that something will happen. We need to get a stranglehold on the game and try to score an away goal.

“Skonto are also in mid-season and their objective is to make their mark in Europe. Their manager, Paul Ashworth, is an Englishman who had done his Pro-Licence under the FAI in Dublin, so he has plenty spies on us. He’s said he’s watched our last five games, so he’s been busy with his preparation.

“They will know us well and be familiar with our players, but we’ve got to try and make sure that when we come back to the Brandywell on Thursday week, there’s a match to play and we still have a chance of progressing.”