- Macdara Ferris
- Tue, Sep 05 2023
UCD
The clock is ticking on UCD’s time in the Premier Division.
They come into Wednesday’s back game against Derry City rooted to the bottom of the table, 17 points off ninth placed Cork City with only eight games remaining.
You have to go back to June for their last victory, a 2-1 home win over Sligo Rovers.
They face a Derry City team who they have lost to in each of their last seven league games.
The Students haven’t beaten the Candystripes in Belfield since April 2005.
City have scored four goals against UCD on both occasions the teams have met this season – 4-1 at home in May and 4-0 the last time they met in Belfield.
They two teams will play each other again at the end of this month in Derry.
DERRY CITY
The Candystripes will be looking for maximum points on Wednesday night against UCD when they play their game in hand over league leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Should City win in the Bowl and get victory in the following fixture, at home to the Hoops after this weekend’s international break, they would be just a point behind the Rovers with six games to go.
In the last eight games, City have won just four games but their only loss was the 1-0 defeat in Tallaght to the Hoops.
Ruaidhri Higgins’ side come into the game in Belfield buoyed by a 3-1 win in Dundalk last Friday – a victory that sent City into second place in the table.
"It's a massive game for us, make no mistake about that" said the City boss speaking about the game in Dublin to his club’s media team.
"I watched their recent game at home to St Pats and they were desperately unlucky to come away with nothing from that (after losing 1-0 at home).
"UCD’s back four is strong and they have experience in there as well so we'll have to work really hard if we want to pick up a vital three points."
Higgins can call upon Sadou Diallo for this game as he returns from suspension.
Referee: David Dunne
MATCH STATS
October 2014 was the last time UCD defeated Derry City in league action.
Andy Myler’s men have the youngest profile in the division with an average age of 21.4 – over two year’s younger than the next team (Cork City).
May was the last time City came to Dublin and won in the league – that was a 1-0 win in Dalymount Park.
PREDICTION
2-0 away win
UCD
Injured: n/a
Doubtful: n/a
Suspended: None
Derry City
Injured: Colm Whelan, Ciaron Harkin
Doubtful: Ronan Boyce
Suspended: None
