League Preview: UCD -v- Derry City

UCD

Bottom-of-the-table UCD kick off the final series of games with the visit of Derry City to Belfield on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Collie O’Neill’s side fell three points behind Finn Harps in the race to avoid the one automatic relegation spot following a 2-1 defeat to Waterford last week.

A UCD side much improved from their 7-0 whitewash against Shamrock Rovers were unfortunately not to leave with at least a point.

Zack Elbouzedi had given the visitors an early lead before debutant Liam Kerrigan deservedly equalised midway through the second half.

However substitute Dean Walsh struck late to secure all three points for the Blues, while Finn Harps beat Derry to move clear of the Students.

“It’s really frustrating because we played really, really well, particularly in that second half,” O’Neill told extratime.ie.

“Some of the passages of play were really good and, as I was saying in there, I think the only thing our goalkeeper had to do in the second half was take the ball out of the net.

“It’s our fault they scored. Even though it was a fantastic strike, it was our fault. We could have dealt with it better.

“Those kind of mistakes just haven’t cost us a point because we’ve it was 1-1 at that stage, it’s cost us three because it’s a game that we should have won.”

Evan Osam, Josh Collins and Sean McDonald remain out with injury with Dara Keane could return after observing concussion protocols.

Goalkeeper Conor Kearns will miss a significant chunk of the remainder of the season after receiving a six-game ban for goading Bohemians fans last month, while captain Paul Doyle is also suspended.

DERRY CITY

Derry City quickly bounced back from a disappointing derby defeat to Finn Harps last week as they defeated Waterford 2-0 on Monday night.

First-half goals from David Parkhouse were enough for Declan Devin’s side to see off the Blues and move within three points of Bohemians in the race for third.

Devine will be frustrated at ceding the initiative against Harps, where a win would have left them level with Bohs, and will look to avoid a repeat away to another struggling side.

“Three points is all that matters and it doesn’t matter if we’re playing UCD or Dundalk. That’s the mindset of the players, of the staff,” Devine told the club’s website.

“We’ve got to make sure that in every single game we walk off the pitch having left everything on the pitch.

“There’s no easy games, I keep saying it but we’re in a good place at the minute. We’re in a very positive frame of mind, playing some fantastic football.

“We’re creating lots of opportunities, especially away from home where we’ve scored the second most amount of goals in the league.

“We must be at our best every 90 minutes and the players are giving everything for that.

“The last phase of games throw up a lot of different results and we must remain focused on what we’re trying achieve here.”

Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe is Devine’s only injury concern, and he’ll be assessed ahead of kick-off, while Eoghan Stokes and Patrick McClean have both left the club.

Referee: Derek Tomney

MATCH STATS

This will be the final league meeting between the sides this season as they’ve already played each other three times.

Derry won the first two games, 3-0 at the Brandywell on the opening day at 2-0 in Belfield, before drawing the most recent game in Derry in July.

BETTING

UCD 10/1; Draw 9/2; Derry City 1/5.

PREDICTION

UCD 1 – 1 Derry City

UCD

Injured: Josh Collins, Sean McDonald, Evan Osam.

Doubtful: Dara Keane.

Suspended: Paul Doyle, Conor Kearns.

Derry City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe.

Suspended: None.