League Preview: Derry City -v- UCD

DERRY CITY

Derry City will be hoping to put their poor start to the season behind them as they face a UCD side who have lost their last four league games when they square off at the Brandywell on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

They will play the game against a backdrop of discontent amongst the City faithful who are finding it difficult to understand some of manager Roddy Collins decisions both on and off the pitch. Star striker Rory Patterson seems likely to be omitted from the squad again for 'footballing reasons' whilst the McEleney brothers also seem to have fallen out of favour from a team who are finding it difficult to create chances at the moment.

Derry, along with Limerick have only managed to score 6 goals in their opening 9 games which is the lowest in the league by some distance. That said, they have only conceded 8 which is the lowest with the exception of Limerick.

However Derry will feel they can start getting amongst the goals against the students who have conceded 23, the most in the division alongside Athlone.

Collins will probably select a more attacking line up and I would expect to see starts for Patrick McEleney and Michael Duffy with Mark Stewart and Enda Curran leading the line in the continued inexplicable absence of Patterson.

The manager will have to plan without experienced midfielder Barry Molloy who is nursing a hamstring injury as well as Ryan McBride and Barry McNamee who are still a week away from returns.

Speaking earlier Collins said "The thoughts on the game are to be very expansive, get the ball down and pass it and create as many chances as possible and hope we finish enough off to win the game. UCD are very well organised and have a manager who is very well organised and they come here with no fear or no pressure on them."

UCD

UCD travel to the Brandywell on Friday buoyed by the fact that on their last three trips to the Foyleside venue they have posted two wins and a draw.

The Students however have lost their last four in a row and have conceded the most goals in the division.

Manager Aaron Callaghan remains upbeat about his sides’ chances of getting a result and said: "After another good performance on Monday we will be hopeful of picking up a positive result against Derry. Over the last few years we have picked up some good results in the Brandywell and if we can start creating more chances in front of goal there is no reason why we can’t pick up another.

“In recent weeks we have been a little unlucky with the number of injuries and suspensions across the squad with the likes of Dean Clarke, Ayman Ben Mohamed and Ian Ryan missing through injury whilst Tomas Boyle and Hugh Douglas have missed matches through suspension. However this has given players like James Kavanagh and Samir Belhout an opportunity to come in and do very well.”

Cillian Morrison, a former Derry City player looks to be the biggest threat having netted three times during the campaign already and Hugh Douglas has always performed well at the Brandywell on previous visits.

Referee: Robert Harvey

BETTING

Derry City 1/2; Draw 11/4; UCD 6/1

PREDICTION

Derry City 1 - 0 UCD

Derry City

Injury News: Ryan McBride (concussion), Barry McNamee (calf), Barry Molloy (hamstring).
Suspension News: None.

UCD

Injury News: Ayman Ben Mohamed (knee), Ian Ryan (foot), Dean Clarke (back).
Suspension News: None.