‘We must win’ - insists Kee

The Waterside men are currently ten points behind Saturday’s opponents and because of that Kee feels only maximum points will do if they harbour any hopes of catching Whitney Anderson’s side.

“We have to get a win, that’s it, there is no glossing this game up,” insisted Kee.

“We have to win to close the gap and if we want to be serious about finishing in the top two and that’s what our aim is.

“Obviously you want to finish in top spot because that gets you automatically back into the Premiership, but second spot gets you into a play-off against the team who is either bottom or second bottom of the Premiership and on our showing on Saturday, we are more than a match for the teams who are middle to bottom half of the Premiership.

“As I told the players after the Donegal Celtic game, the cup tie is now over its done and dusted and we’ll talk about the replay whenever it comes up, but we have to focus and win at Ballinamallard on Saturday.”

Having already played them twice this season in the Irn Bru Cup and the league the Waterside men have suffered two defeats but Kee remains optimistic it could be third time lucky.

“There is no question they have the best pitch in the league and because of that they’ll be expecting an onslaught from us and if we can carry on Saturday’s form then we have a chance.

“We have shown in many games this year against Coleraine and Donegal Celtic we can play at a really high level and if we can play at that level at Ferney Park then we can win.

“We have battered them twice this season, but we haven’t scored but in fairness to them they have had three or four years to work at it as a team so you have to respect that, while under our tenure we are a well ahead of schedule in my opinion but as I have said I think if we can play like anywhere near the way we played on Saturday then I have no doubt that we can win.

“But I don’t want complacency setting in and them getting a wee bit arrogant, I want them focused and make sure that they have to put in that same work ethic and if we do that then we’ll win the game.”

The ’Stute boss also feels that over the next few weeks his squad is going to get even better and competition for places particularly in midfield is going to be stronger, as Graham Crown and recent signing Darren McCauley both did very well against Donegal Celtic last weekend.

“Crown did well defensively, but whenever you have (Thomas) McBride and (Neil) Harkin in the team they are fetchers who’ll get the ball off the back four and maybe Crowner isn’t comfortable taking the ball but he’ll head, tackle, chase, deny space and be enthusiastic about his defending and he’s definitely always going to put in a good shift.

“Crowner is consisted and he can play anywhere and he gives you a 100 per cent everywhere he plays.

“In fairness young Darren (McCauley) also did well on Saturday, he’s just starting to fit in but there is no question about it he’ll be a brilliant acquisition to the squad; but Neil Harkin understands the way we play and if he had have been playing against Donegal Celtic, I think we would have had even more control of the game.”

“With McCauley, Harkin, McBride, (Declan) McKeever and now young Jack Heaney we certainly have good competition for places in midfield, so I’m more than pleased with what we have got.”

The Drumahoe men will have Neil Harkin back from suspension, while Thomas McBride will also be pushing for a place in the starting line-up, after he returned to action last weekend but Ryan Browne misses out as he serves a one match ban.