FAI Ford Cup, Derry City v Monaghan United (Brandywell, 7.45):   Having seen predecessors Drogheda sucker-punched by lower division opponents at the first hurdle last year, holders Derry City approach tonight's second round clash against struggling Monaghan United with a degree of trepidation

That said, Pat McCourt won't tolerate anything less than a victory. Advancing tonight, he believes, will kick-start Derry's season. Too late, some may argue, but after a frustrating start littered with unlikely defeats - not to mention manager Pat Fenlon's departure - it's a case of now or never.

Monaghan are down and out, shackled to the floor of the First Division with just the one league win for company.  Tonight's game, therefore, brings with it no pressures and affords time for expression.  For Derry, a muscle-flexing exercise is required to disperse a fog of uncertainty lingering in the north-west.

"A good cup run will get the confidence back in the team," says McCourt whose team sit seventh in the Premier, 11 points off leaders St Patrick's Athletic.  "We'll take it one game at a time. In 10 or 12 games time we'll see where we are, then in last six or seven games we'll try push on from there.

"But we're just looking for a good result against Monaghan.  That would allow us get back into the swing of it and maybe it will kick-start our season, or what's left of it. It's a game we can win, must win and hopefully we can.  It would get us back on track and might lead to a few more victories."

Derry, despite less than inspiring performances, are actually unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions.  But chipping away at that statistic reveals just two of those results were victories, only one of which came in the league.

"I honestly can't put my finger on it," McCourt says of the team's inconsistency this season  "It has been like that all year.  A few times we thought we were a good bit behind but then we'd win and someone else would lose.  There are no easy games in the league, anyone can beat anyone on their day.

"But even to win four or five games in a row is 15 points.  I can't see many teams going on a run like that at the minute but we're certainly capable of doing it.  I hope we can.  We want to get back into the race."

Veteran defender Peter Hutton is, for the time being at least, entrusted with steadying the ship following Fenlon's resignation just five months into the job.

McCourt is adamant that particular arrangement is working well but urges patience from those in the terraces.  Fenlon's departure, he suggests, was just a ripple effect of deeper rooted circumstances.    Stephen Kenny's departure to Scotland and then that of his backroom staff set the wheel of change in motion.

"A whole new management team has come in (since Kenny) so it's taking time for everyone to gel.  But essentially it's the same players out there on the pitch so maybe it's taking a bit longer than it should.

"Pat's a good man though.  Training and that was great.  Shame he couldn't hang around longer and turn it around.  But that's football sometimes. Managers come and go.  You're there and Derry are paying your wages.  It doesn't really matter who's manager, you've still to go perform on a Friday night."

While Monaghan will do their utmost to further derail the hosts, McCourt is hoping both he and his team-mates can knuckle down on this particular Friday in the overdue hope of re-igniting their campaign.