19.45 2 Sep 2016 -
Referee: Graham Kelly
League Preview: Derry City -v- Galway United
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Sep 02 2016
DERRY CITY
Derry City will look to carry on the pressure on Dundalk and Cork City when they welcome Galway United to the Brandywell on Friday night.
The Candystripes received a major boost in their quest to bring European football back to Derry with a battling 1-0 win away to Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday.
Rovers began the day two points behind the Candystripes in fourth, but with two games in hand, but the win puts Derry's European fate very much back in their own hands, particularly as Rovers have a harder run-in.
Their chances of overhauling either of the top two are less favourable given Dundalk and Cork have four and three games in hand respectively, but Kenny Shiels' side continue to exceed pre-season expectations.
Derry's defensive crisis shows no signs of letting up as captain Ryan McBride and Aaron Barry miss out with long-term injuries, while Max Karner also missed the Rovers trip through injury.
GALWAY UNITED
Galway United will look to put a disappointing August behind them as three straight defeats have seen the Tribesman slip out of the top half of the table and into eighth.
Tommy Dunne's men began the month with an impressive 1-0 win over Champions Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park, which appeared to boost their outside chances of securing a spot in the top four.
However successive losses to St Patrick's Athletic, Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers have put paid to those notions, and with no FAI Cup to play for United are playing for pride.
This could play into Derry's hands as the Candystripes will be on a high following their midweek win in Tallaght, and won't be troubled by having had to play the extra game.
"We're heading to the Brandywell to win,” Dunne told the club's website.
“Derry City are playing well and we haven't been of late. We haven't been far off, but we haven't been getting over the line with results.
"We need to be a bit more ruthless and clinical. We're looking at trying to be that bit more competitive again, like we were at the start of the season, we need to get back to that type of form.
"There is momentum, it's fine lines for us at the moment. We're looking to improve on where we finished last year. There is a lot of football still to be played, there is ten remaining league games.”
Dunne will be without Stephen Walsh and Jose Garcia through injury, and Padraic Cunningham is a long-term absentee, but has an otherwise full squad to select from.
Referee: Graham Kelly.
MATCH STATS
The sides have met twice so far this season, with the Candystripes marginally better off by virtue of a last-minute winner at the Brandywell in March and a 0-0 at Eamonn Deacy Park in June.
BETTING
Derry City 5/6; Draw 12/5; Galway United 10/3.
PREDICTION
Derry City 2 - 0 Galway United
Derry City
Injured: Aaron Barry, Ryan McBride.
Doubtful: Max Karner.
Suspended: None.
Galway United
Injured: Jose Garcia, Stephen Walsh, Padraic Cunningham.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.