League Preview: Derry City -v- Dundalk

DERRY CITY

Derry City will contest in their first home game this season as they host reigning champions, Dundalk at the Brandywell this Friday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division (Kick off: 7:45pm).

In the first weekend of the new season Derry came out on top of a 2-1 scoreline against newly promoted Galway and will be determined to continue from where they left off this time around. Undoubtedly, this week's task will be much tougher but Peter Hutton feels that his side can be a test for ex-Derry manager Stephen Kenny's Lilywhites. 

"Performance-wise last season when we played the top teams, we did really well but we didn't get the run of the green in terms of results" he told the Derry News. He continues: "We were very good in most of the games but we just lacked that killer instinct.

"What we're looking for on Friday night is an improved performance and if we do get that, we certainly have a chance of getting some type of result against Dundalk. We're not going into it with any fear. Most people outside Derry won't be giving us much of a chance but we're quietly confident that we can upset them."

Hutton, again speaking with the Derry News, assessed his squad coming into this week's game:

"Gerard [Doherty] pulled out of training with a very sore hip. He had to get intensive physio which will be the case again today. The way he was talking he couldn't even bend very well so he'd be very doubtful at this stage.

"Stephen Dooley is still a week or two away because he's hurt a disc in his back doing a session on his own in the gym, which is very unfortunate; we're still waiting on international clearance for Seanan Clucas; Nathan Boyle and Cillian Morrison are making good progress but they won't be training with the rest of the squad until Monday; Seamus Sharkey trained with the squad yesterday for the first time and so far has gotten through it; Anthony Elding has been receiving treatment and there has been a slight improvement. He didn't train on Wednesday so we'll see how he is; Sean Kelly hasn't trained either because there is a bit of swelling on his knee after the Galway game" 

Derry will be rejuvenated with the return of club captain Ryan McBride along with Mark Timlin who are both coming back from suspension. As well as Seamus Sharkey coming back into the squad after taking part in training this week.

DUNDALK

The league champions from last season make their first trip away from home this Friday as they travel to the north west to face Derry City at the Brandywell. Dundalk got their title defence season off to a great start last week grinding out a 1-0 win against Longford.

Goalkeeper, Gary Rogers had this to say regarding last week's game:

"We would have taken three points and a win before we started”, said Rogers. “To get a goal against the wind gave us that bit of confidence. If we had got the second goal with all the opportunities we created then perhaps more would have followed."

 Looking forward to this week's game, he said the following:

“Going to the Brandywell is never easy to go to but if we go with a positive frame of mind and the right attitude then we can win the game.”

Attacking midfielder, Daryl Horgan who scored the only goal last week also had his say on the two games:

“The first game of the season is always scrappy but Longford played well and were awkward to play against. We should have had the game wrapped up maybe but we won and that’s the main thing. Always nice to score but to win is the most important thing so delighted with that. We got the early goal, kept a clean sheet and got the three points.

"The Brandywell will be a tough place to play in and Derry won last week too so it will be difficult we know that but we’re taking each game as it comes and hopefully we can get the right result.”

Stephen Kenny's sided will be strengthened with Darren Meenan coming back from suspension.  

Referee: Paul Tuite

MATCH STATS

The sides met on four occasion’s last campaign, Dundalk winning three of these with the fourth ending as a draw.

Dundalk's league record with the Candystripes reads: P56 W22 D16 L18

Dundalk are undefeated in all 7 games so far in 2015. 

BETTING

Derry City 3/1; Draw 23/10; Dundalk 10/11

PREDICTION

Derry City 1-2 Dundalk

Derry City

Injured: Stephen Dooley (Back)

Doubtful: Gerard Dohety (Hip), Anthony Elding (Calf), Seanan Clucas (International Clearance), Sean Kelly (Knee) 

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: Stephen O'Donnell (Knee)

Doubtful: None. 

Suspended: None.