League Preview: Derry City -v- Dundalk

DERRY CITY

The Candystripes begin a busy eight day spell which sees both Louth sides visit the Brandywell and an away trip to Sligo. First up are league leaders Dundalk. Two narrow one-nil defeats from two meetings has given Dundalk six points from six so far against the Foylesiders.

Derry managed to string back-to-back wins together for the first time this season when they beat Longford Town 3-0 and Galway United 4-0 respectively. Seven goals and two clean sheets will have Peter Hutton’s side in fine fettle ahead of the arrival of the champions.

Hutton will have to plan without the services of loanee Ciarán O’Connor. The Dundalk youngster is on loan from Oriel Park and started the scoring against Galway before providing an assist for the third. A man of the match performance was a superb way to make an impact on his debut, however, he is unavailable to play against his parent club.

With Patrick McEleney injured and Cillian Morrison suffering from a viral infection, Hutton’s options up front are limited. It’s possible Mark Quigley might start his first game since moving to play up north.

Hutton was delighted that his side managed to crush Galway over 45minutes with four first half goals and that his side has finally started to find the back of the net:

“First half we were a bit lethargic and didn’t play overly well but second half was much improved and we were by far the better team Mark took his goals extremely well again and he had a couple of other chances, so long may that continue.

“I know we’ve been criticised for not being able to score but we just needed the rub of the green which we weren’t getting.”

DUNDALK

Dundalk’s Champions League matches and EA Sports Cup Semi-Final fixture seemed to affect their league form as they drew back to back matches at Oriel Park for the first time this season. Having dropped two points in a lacklustre performance against Longford Town, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny will be hoping that his side can shake off the fixture hangover and maintain the distance between themselves and chasing Cork.

Dundalk have registered two 1-0 victories against the Candystripes and Kenny expects another tough test tomorrow night but was adamant that his side has the quality to get a result.

“We have had two tough games with Derry this year and they’ve had some good form recently but we believe in ourselves and I believe in this team. I think we have an exceptional team, an exceptional group of players and we want to go and win in the Brandywell.

“We have everyone available. We have won seven league games away on the bounce. We are on a terrific run overall looking to add to that. The players are in good form and we missed chances last week but our performance levels are very good.”

Also speaking to his club’s media was winger Daryl Horgan. He seemed hurt by the loss of points to Longford and allowing Cork to cut the Lilywhite’s lead from six points to four but noted that blips were an inevitable part of the season and what was important was the response.

“We are very disappointed with the result at home to Longford Town last week. They are the games that we feel that we should be winning and considering the amount of chances that we had during the game we feel that we done enough to get the three points but these games happen and we weren’t able to win unfortunately. We have to kick on now and go again.

“It’s going to be a tough game in Derry. The Brandywell is always a difficult ground but having said that, we are used to playing in difficult venues and on tough pitches so that isn’t a problem. Derry have hit a bit of form recently and we are wary of that but we will go up there, try to play our normal game and hopefully get back to winning ways.”

The Town have a full squad to choose from including both new front-line additions; Ciarán Kilduff and Seán Maguire who featured as substitutions against Longford last Friday.

Referee: Robert Harvey.

MATCH STATS

Domestically in all competitions Dundalk are on an 18 match unbeaten run and can go 19 games unbeaten for the first time since 1990-91 should they avoid defeat on Friday.

If the match ends in a scoreless draw it would be the first time since August 2009 that there have been three straight goalless draws for Dundalk (at home against FC BATE Borisov and then against Longford last week).

Derry are in a good vein of form and won their first set of back to back matches this season with wins against Longford and Galway over the last two weeks.

BETTING

Derry 19/4; Draw 3/1; Dundalk 4/7.

PREDICTION

Derry 0 – 1 Dundalk.

Derry City

Injured: Patrick McEleney.

Doubtful: Cillian Morrision.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk FC

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.