DERRY: “WE’RE PLEASED TO BE BACK AT HOME”

SHAUN DERRY EXCITED BY RETURN TO THE ABBEY STADIUM

Manager Shaun Derry is looking forward to returning to the Abbey Stadium this weekend, as the U’s face consecutive fixtures on home soil against Carlisle United and Morecambe.

Following successive fixtures on the road for the U’s, United will arrive back in the city just three points outside the play-off places and with plenty to left play for as the conclusion of the season draws nearer.

Derry is highly anticipating the chance to play at the Abbey again this week and said: “We are all really pleased to be back home, because we have had some real tough fixtures away in the last few weeks.

“The travelling support has been phenomenal; the fans have really backed the boys, which we are all so appreciative about. We want to give them a performance at the weekend, before backing it up again on Tuesday night against Morecambe to give them plenty to shout about as the games tick down.

“I’m sure they’ll be there in their large numbers over the next two home games.”

An efficient performance against Newport County in which James Dunne’s second half strike secured a valuable three points, ensures the U’s are perfectly poised in the League table. Derry states that the positive mood within camp has been tangible and is keen for it continue over the next two fixtures.

He said: “Spirits have been very high this week both on the training pitch and in and around the training ground. It is always nice to bring three points home and it’s that stage of the season, where it’s really important we keep the levels of performance as high as they can be. We want to give everybody something to shout about for the remaining five games.

“The intensity of training has always been good but after the weekend there seems to be added zest in the group this week. I was delighted with the application that we showed to bring back the win in the way that we did last weekend.

“You couldn’t help but feel encouraged as we travelled back the three or four hours it took to get home last Saturday and we look forward to back-to-back home games.”

Tickets for both the Carlisle and Morecambe fixtures are available online, in-store and over the phone by calling 01223 566 500. Supporters are advised to purchase before match day save £2 off full price.