League Preview: Derry City -v- Shelbourne

DERRY CITY

Derry City will be looking to put an end to some poor recent form when they welcome Shelbourne to the Brandywell this evening (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Candystripes head into the game after losing to Dundalk in their previous league outing.

“We conceded two goals early on but fought our way back into it and were unlucky to come away with nothing,” Derry boss Declan Devine told his club’s media team

“The problem is that we’re being undone by silly individual errors and if we can cut those out, we can be really competitive against anybody.

“It’s our last home league game of the season but there’s an awful lot of football still to be played.

“We have Shamrock Rovers on Wednesday, then Sligo in the cup on Sunday and a trip to Cork after that at least to come.

“We’ve only thought about the Shels game for now and have worked really hard in training this week with that in mind.”

The Candystripes will be without Ally Gilchrist this evening.

SHELBOURNE

Ian Morris’ Shelbourne will be hoping to secure their third league win on the spin when they take on Derry City this evening.

“We’re getting the rewards now for the hard work that has been put in. We’ve stuck to our task and what we’re implementing here,” Shels boss Ian Morris told his club’s media team.

Friday’s fixture was subject to a late rearrangement from the original Sunday date and Morris labelled it a “strange one” to deal with.

“It changes your week for training days and the hours needed for recovery. It can be difficult to manage but we’re also bouncing into it on the back of last week,” he added.

The fixture also comes at the beginning of the latest government move to Level five restrictions in the country, but Morris said the club has “been fantastic” in adhering to guidelines in a “really high standard.”

“We’ve been asked to abide by the rules and that’s what we will do,” he added as Shels adjust to new travel arrangements and measures for Friday’s game.

The Reds will be without the injured trio of Georgie Poynton, Lorcan Fitzgerald and Karl Sheppard.

Luke Byrne also misses out with suspension.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

MATCH STATS

Shelbourne’s last win over Derry City arrived in 2012 when they earned a one-nil win over the Candystripes thanks to a Philly Hughes second-half winner.

BETTING

Derry City 4/6; Draw 23/10; Shelbourne 7/2.

PREDICTION

Derry City 1 – 1 Shelbourne

Derry City

Injured: Ally Gilchrist.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: Lorcan Fitzgerald, Karl Sheppard, Georgie Poynton.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Luke Byrne.