League Preview: Cork City -v- Derry City

CORK CITY

Cork City will return to Turners Cross this Friday to face a familiar foe this season in Derry City (kick-off 7.45pm).

John Caulfield will be hoping his side can keep their good run of form going in the Premier Division after winning eight out of a possible 12 this season, only losing once.

The Leesiders have won five on the bounce in the League and manager Caulfield has his concerns about a number of players in the squad.

“We’ve quite a number of tired bodies after such a quick turnaround and a few of the lads didn’t train this morning,” he told the club's website.

“We are giving them a bit more rest and recovery and hoping that they will be ok for tomorrow night.

“The big thing for the lads is that they trained very hard in pre-season and it has stood to them over the last number of weeks.”

“We are after winning five in a row and, when you are winning, you have confidence and fellas feel good.

“It is another massive game for us tomorrow and, obviously, Derry are third in the table but, at the same time, it is an opportunity for us to win six in a row.”

A number of key players are still missing for Cork City including Gearóid Morrissey, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury. John Kavanagh remains unavailable.

DERRY CITY

Derry City travel to Turners Cross for the second time in 10 days after the Candystripes earned an extra-time win over Cork City in the EA Sports Cup on May 2.

Kenny Shiels could be without top goal scorer Rory Patterson and Conor McCormack for the game after both players picked up knocks against Finn Harps on Tuesday.

The Candstripes already beat the Leesiders in the Premier Division at the start of the season, and currently sit three points behind John Caulfield's side.

A third win against Cork could see Derry move level with their opponents on 27 points, which would keep their title bid alive.

Derry City almost got three points against their local rivals Finn Harps on Tuesday night, Sean Houston's late goal denying his former side the win.

Kenny Shiels knows all too well about the long journey from the northwest down to Turners Cross and is sure Caulfield’s side will be out for revenge.

"They'll be out for revenge but we want to beat them for third time in 10 weeks," he said.

"We know it's going to be a very difficult game, especially on their own ground.

“It's a long trip but we will have no excuses and the boys will be up for this game."

Referee: David McKeon

MATCH STATS

Derry City are the only team to beat Cork City this season.

This will be the 76^th meeting between the two sides.

Cork City have won 30, while Derry City have only won 23, there have been 22 draws.

BETTING

Cork City 8/13; Draw 13/5; Derry City 5/1

PREDICTION

Cork City 2-0 Derry City

Cork City

Injured: Gearóid Morrissey, John Kavanagh.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Derry City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Rory Patterson, Conor McCormack.

Suspended: None.