League Preview: Derry City -v- Sligo Rovers

DERRY CITY

Derry welcome Sligo Rovers to the Brandywell this Friday (Kick-Off 7.45pm) with the aim of continuing their good performances of late and beginning a late surge of positive results as we come towards the end of the season.

In the build-up to the tie Derry manager Peter Hutton had this to say about last week’s narrow defeat to reigning champions, St. Patrick’s Athletic.

“We were very good in the second half apart from putting the ball in the back of the net so there was a lot of positives to take. But it was disappointing we dominated for so long and got nothing out of it. We have to remain positive going into the Sligo game.”

Despite both sides being all but out of the race for a top four finish the Derry boss expects a tight and very competitive encounter:

“It’s a game we’re looking forward to. Sligo are a different proposition from the side we played the last time down there. They’ve changed the manager and some of the personnel on the pitch as well.

“They still have that quality and depth in their squad and we need to be on our guard and give them due respect. The players have been nice and bright in training this week and they’re looking forward to it.”

“We’d like to catch Sligo and see where it takes us. Obviously the cup is the priority now but we still want to finish as high as possible in the league within reason.”

Derry will be without the services of Rory Patterson who is still troubled with a back injury along with Joshua Tracey who is on international duty. However on a brighter note, Derry will be boosted defensively as both Shane McEleney and Aaron Barry are back to full fitness.

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo make the short trip to the Brandywell on Friday evening hopeful of erasing all memory of their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Shamrock Rovers last week. Sligo, who lie just above Derry in the table, will also be hopeful of a positive end to the season.

Sligo manager, John Coleman in the run up to the Derry fixture assessed his side:

“I was disappointed with how we performed against Shamrock Rovers. Even though we had a limited amount of players to choose from we prepared the players right but we just didn’t perform on the night.

“If you compare the performance to how we played the previous week against Dundalk it was like chalk and cheese. But these things happen in football. It will be difficult to finish fourth now but we have to keep going and see how many games we can win between now and the end of the season.”

However the man at the helm spoke of his delight at a now revitalised squad and how the team will be ready for the upcoming games.

“It’s a bonus to have players coming back to the squad and it gives us more options for the game but it’s a shame that Gavin Peers is out through suspension”.

“Derry will be a tough game, they are in form and have had some good results but we showed against Cork and Dundalk that we can play well against the better teams.

"Playing two games in four days will be tough but you have to accept that as a footballer. Players prefer to be playing games than training at this stage of the season so we have no qualms about that.”

Sligo will be without Jeff Henderson and Daryl Kavanagh who continue to occupy the long term injury list. The Bit O’Red will also be without the services of Gavin Peers who is serving a one match ban due to an accumulation of yellow cards. John Coleman will also be waiting on the fitness of John Russell.

Referee: David McKeon

MATCH STATS

Both sides are coming into game on very similar form having both won two out of their last five games.

Derry’s top goal scorer this season has been Michael Duffy who thus far has accumulated 11 goals with Sligo’s closest competitor being Danny North who has netted on six occasions.

The first game between these two sides at the Brandywell this season ended 1-0 in favour of Derry with the corresponding game at The Showgrounds ending 2-2.

BETTING

Derry City 7/5; Draw 9/4; Sligo Rovers 7/4.

PREDICTION

 I can see it being a very evenly contested affair at the Brandywell. I am going to go for a 1-1 draw.

Derry City

Injured: Rory Patterson (Back injury)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Joshua Tracey (International Duty)

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Jeff Henderson, Daryl Kavanagh
Doubtful: John Russell
Suspended: Gavin Peers