Derry City -v- Bohemians

DERRY CITY

Derry City will look to continue their recent good run of form with all three points against a struggling Bohemians at the Brandywell on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Foylesiders have an excellent recent record against their opponents, winning seven and drawing one of their last eight fixtures and you would have to go back to 2009 to find the Dubliners last success.

Derry will have to plan without the league's leading marksman Rory Patterson as he sits out a suspension after picking up four yellow cards and also influential midfield general Barry Molloy who is still carrying a knock picked up over a month ago.

They have a bit of re-shuffling to do at the back as both left backs Dermot McCaffrey and Thomas Crawley are unavailable through injury with Barry McNamee likely to drop back and fill in.

Speaking ahead of the game Declan Devine is ready for a tough game despite Bohs league position.

"We are preparing at the minute for a tough game on Friday night. Although Bohemians home form has been a little indifferent their away form has been quite good having drawn at least with some of the top teams. Yes we had a good result down there earlier in the season but that is forgotten now and we need to be at our best to make sure that we can get a similar result here in the Brandywell.

"We have been back training all week and I think the break has helped us greatly, the lads have been great during training and they all seem to have a lot of energy which is good to see. Now all we need to do is translate that to a performance on Friday night and we should pick up the three points."

Derry will be looking for Mark Griffin and Michael Rafter to step up in Patterson's absence to provide the firepower as they look to keep the pressure on St Pats at the business end of the table.

BOHEMIANS

Aaron Callaghan faces a daunting trip to the Brandywell with a squad decimated by illness and injury. Owen Heary and Dave Mulcahy are definitely out whilst Derek Pender is suspended. On top of that Dave Scully, Ryan McEvoy, Stephen Traynor and Kevin O'Leary are all major doubts for the fixture.

It's been a tough season for Callaghan's side as they sit only five points off the bottom of the table and he will be hoping the mid season break will have given his charges time to regroup.

Speaking ahead of the match, he said  “Sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees, so we took time to reflect on where we’re going,” he said. “Our highest priority is to put a league run together, ensure we stay in the Premier Division and finish as high up as possible. We know we have to improve, and we have to improve our home form particularly.”

Focusing on the club’s league position means that chasing a possible trophy in the EA Sports Cup takes second place.

“We’ll go to Derry knowing that three points would give us a huge lift. But to come away with a point would be fantastic,” said Callaghan.

“We have to take heart from the fact that UCD went up there and won and we had a good result in Sligo a few weeks back.”

Bohemians have secured notable draws on their travels, in Tallaght, Inchicore, Drogheda and Sligo.

“Our home form has been baffling at times. We don’t seem to start games well at home and we need to address that,” said Callaghan.

“But we’ve had some fantastic results away from home. The young lads have stepped up to the mark and we’ll be asking them to do it again.

Referee: Rob Rogers

MATCH STATS

The last game between the sides saw Derry City win 4-0 at Dalymount Park.

Bohemians have only won once away from home in the league this season.

The league's top scorer Rory Patterson will sit the game out through suspension.

BETTING

Derry City 1/3;  Draw 10/3;  Bohemians 9/1.

PREDICTION
A Derry win - 2-1

Derry City

Injured: Barry Molloy (knee), Thomas Crawley (groin), Dermot McCaffrey (hamstring).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Rory Patterson.

Bohemians

Injured: Owen Heary (hip), Dave Mulcahy (virus).

Doubtful: Dave Scully (ankle), Ryan McEvoy (virus), Stephen Traynor (ankle), Kevin O'Leary (virus).

Suspended: Derek Pender.