Europa League: Derry City -v- Shakhtyor Salihorsk

DERRY CITY

Derry City will look to continue their fine European form as they face Belarussian side Shakhtyor Salihorsk in the second qualifying round of the Europa League at the Brandywell on Thursday evening (k.o.7.45pm).

City qualified with a comprehensive 9-0 aggregate rout over Aberystwyth Town at the first stage but a much sterner test is expected from the Belarussian cup holders.

Derry welcome back first choice centre halves Ryan McBride and Cliff Byrne to their line up and will be confident given their recent free scoring form of securing a result before next week’s second leg.

The Candystripes have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and in particular Patrick McEleney has been sensational in the last few games both with his assists and goals. Barry McNamee and Rory Patterson have also hit top form at this crucial stage of the season.

New signings Philip Lowry, Sean Houston and Stephen Dooley have considerably strengthened the squad though none of them are likely to start the game.

Speaking ahead of the tie, manager Peter Hutton said "We’ve done a bit of research on them but it’s far from ideal getting information on a team from Belarus but we’ve watched some DVDs of them and I know they’re a decent side and technically very, very good. They have one of the league’s top goalscorers in the team in Nikolai Yanush but they’re an older and more experienced team. We expect a very difficult game on Thursday night".

SHAKHTYOR SALIHORSK

Shakhtyor face a trip into the unknown as they face League of Ireland opposition for the first time at the Brandywell on Thursday evening.

They come into the tie lying third in their national league behind more widely known sides BATE Borisov and Dynamo Minsk. They are the current holders of the Belarussian cup and are the seeded side in the tie all be it they were the lowest seeds Derry could possibly have drawn.

They are on a good run of form themselves with 4 wins in the last five games, the only blot being a reverse against a strong Dynamo Minsk team.

They will however fancy their chances of securing a result to take back to Salihorsk being the seeded side and in Yanushkevich have a lethal striker capable of exploiting any mistakes in the Derry back line.

Referee: Danilo Grujic

MATCH STATS

Shakhtyor have played at the Brandywell before defeating Omagh Town 7-0 in 2003.

Derry City broke many LOI records with their 9-0 thumping of Aberystwyth in the last round.

Shakhtyor are the present holders of the Belarussian cup.

BETTING

Derry City 6/4; Draw 12/5; Shakhtyor Salihorsk 8/5

PREDICTION

Derry City 2-1  Shakhtyor Salihorsk

Derry City Injury News: Dean Jarvis

Shakhtyor Salihorsk Injury News: A. Starogordsky