Derry City -v- Limerick FC

DERRY CITY

Derry City will welcome Limerick FC to the Brandywell on Friday evening looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to ten games and put pressure on leaders Sligo Rovers.

The Candystripes’ six game winning streak was ended last week with a hard fought draw away to fellow title chasers St Patricks Athletic but the mood remains confident in the camp.

Derry welcome back Sean Houston and Stewart Greacen back from injury but both may find it hard to break into Declan Devine’s starting eleven given the current form of the players in possession of the shirts at the moment.

Paddy Kavanagh is thought to be two weeks away from fitness with a troublesome hamstring as is club captain Kevin Deery whose continuing knee problems must be a concern to his manager. Derry will be looking to match winners like Rory Patterson and Michael Rafter to continue their scoring exploits with the two forwards having fifteen goals between them already this campaign.

Barry Molloy, who is deputising as captain in Deerys absence, said "Limerick have had some mixed results but I think they've proven against the top sides how strong they are. They have a lot of quality with the likes of Joe Gamble and Shane Treacy who has scored a couple of great free kicks for them this year. They'll be a tough nut to crack but with home advantage we have to be targeting three points.

“We want to get as many wins as possible this season so in that sense the next game is always the most important one. I don't think our performance against Shamrock Rovers in our last home game was our best of the season but when our backs were to the wall late on the support made a big difference in digging out the win and hopefully the fans will come back in big numbers on Friday night".

LIMERICK FC

Limerick FC will travel with a quiet confidence to the Brandywell on the back of a five game unbeaten run for Friday night’s match against second placed Derry City in what is sure to be a difficult Airtricity League Premier Division game.

The Blues are sitting comfortably in sixth position in the table and were very unlucky to come away from Sligo with nothing to show for their efforts. They have been defeated only twice so far this season with the only away defeat coming in the game against the champions.

Stuart Taylor will be looking to the experienced Joe Gamble to exert his authority in midfield as well as to former Hibernian starlet Danny Galbraith to provide the creative spark as they attempt to halt the home sides nine game unbeaten streak.

Taylor will however have to plan without the services of Craig Curran who has amassed four yellow cards and will serve a one game ban.Dom Foley is also unavailable as he recovers from a long term injury problem. On the plus side Axel Bossekota returns to the panel following an illness.

Referee:Tom Connolly.

MATCH STATS

Derry are rediscovering their home form after three wins on the trot at the Brandywell.

The sides last met in the first division in 2010 with Derry City recording a 1-0 victory.

Both sides boast international quality with Limericks Joe Gamble having represented the Republic of Ireland whilst Derry Citys Rory Patterson has been capped for Northern Ireland.

BETTING

Derry City 7/10;  Draw 12/5;  Limerick 4/1.

PREDICTION

Derry City 3-1 Limerick FC.

Derry City

Injured: Kevin Deery (knee), Paddy Kavanagh (hamstring).
Suspended: None.

Limerick FC

Injured: Dominic Foley.
Suspended: Craig Curran.