CENTRE Fergus Mulchrone has stressed the London Irish players are desperate to ensure the fans once again enjoy coming to the Madejski Stadium after a difficult start to the season.

Mulchrone has started Irish’s previous two Aviva Premiership matches and was part of the side which last won a home league match on April 12, the 25-23 victory over Sale Sharks.

The Exiles are yet to win in the Aviva Premiership this season but they did record a convincing 48-10 win over Agen at the Madejski Stadium in the European Challenge Cup, before losing their second match of the competition on Saturday to Grenoble due to a try in the final minute.

Irish return to league action this weekend at Twickenham when they face Wasps as part of the London Double Header and the 28-year-old is hoping to build some momentum in the coming weeks.

“We can’t just rely on being able to win away, we want to make the Madejski Stadium a place which our opponents fear and where our supporters get a lot of enjoyment out of watching us play,” said Mulchrone (pictured right).

“We want the performances in Europe to provide the team with a snowball effect and take it in into the Premiership.

“Tom Coventry, Clark Laidlaw and Grant Doorey are fantastic coaches and bring a wealth of knowledge.

“Throughout pre-season and even these opening few games, the boys are gelling and we have a great culture throughout the team and there is a really good environment.”

Attentions will now switch back to the domestic campaign with Irish only off the foot of the table by points difference – Newcastle Falcons below them.

The Reading-based club have not picked up a single point in their opening four matches against Leicester Tigers, Exeter Chiefs, Saracens and Bath.

Survival will be the number one objective in the Aviva Premiership this season but in the European Challenge Cup, Mulchrone believes they have a shot at glory.

He added: “The Premiership is our main focus but Europe is massive for us; it’s a competition we feel as if we can really progress in, and it’s a competition that has given us the opportunity to look at some younger lads who have stepped up and done well.

“We got to the quarter-finals last year so it’s definitely one we want to stay in.”

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