League Preview: Derry City -v- Drogheda United

DERRY CITY

A beleaguered Derry City play host to in-form Drogheda United at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium (kick-off at 7.45pm).

The Candystripes have endured a wretched start to their 2021 season – with their latest defeat at home to Shamrock Rovers leaving them rooted to the foot of the table.

But their manager Declan Devine is encouraged with what he saw against the Hoops ahead of their clash at home to Drogheda.

“We played a Rovers team that hasn’t lost in 18 months and we took them on,” Devine said.
“They got two goals in quick succession just before half time and that left us with a mountain to climb.

“In all we used 11 local players on Tuesday night. That is some testament to the building going on at all levels at this club.

“The fact remains we lost the game however and while I thought there were some brilliant individual performances from us on the night, everybody knows we need points, and we need them quickly.

“We were in on Wednesday morning and we had a good look at the game.

“The boys haven’t broken stride in training, and they are raring to go again on Friday.”

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United will be looking to build on their exceptional 4-0 win away to Longford Town last time out when they visit Derry City on Friday evening.

The Boynesiders easily swatted aside Longford last time out, and their assistant boss Kevin Doherty has been pleased with the bounce the win has brought to his side in training this week.

“With it being the Brandywell, it’s always a tough place to go, as cliché as it is, it certainly is,” he told his club’s media team.

“It’s a big pitch, they work really hard, they’ve been unlucky in games. The Pats’ game for instance, they were right in it, had a great chance, Akintunde, to go one up and then had a man sent off. Which, with a team that dominates the ball like Pats’, was hard.

“It’s Derry City, they will be wanting to pick up points and will see tomorrow as a chance to get their season up and running points wise, but I think performance wise they have been really good.

“We’ve seen them in person, three of their four games, so we know how good they are. I’d be struggling to think of Derry down the bottom of the league come the end of season given the manager, the coaching and the players they have there,” Doherty said.

Mark Hughes continues his recovery from injury while Darragh Markey and Conor Kane are both doubts.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

MATCH STATS

Drogheda United last met Derry City in a competitive game in August 2020 in the FAI Cup, with the Candystripes running out 2-0 winners.

Derry City are winless in their previous seven games against Drogheda – with their last defeat coming in 2015.

BETTING

Derry City 5/4; Draw 11/5; Drogheda United 2/1.

PREDICTION

Derry City 1 - 3 Drogheda United

Derry City

Injured: Joe Hodge.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Danny Lupano.

Drogheda United

Injured: Mark Hughes.

Doubtful: Darragh Markey, Conor Kane.

Suspended: None.