League Preview: Derry City -v- St Patrick's Athletic

DERRY CITY

The narrative surrounding Derry City's season disturbs what we may initially have expected of Kenny Shiels' team after nine games.

Although fifteen points off league winners Dundalk, last year's third place finish equalled their best league standing since 2011.

Taking to Maginn Park in a manner that Spurs would only love to replicate in Wembley next season, Derry's two opening home fixtures resulted in a combined 7-1 victory against the best that Co. Louth could offer.

Viewed separately, a 3-1 win against defending champions Dundalk was their first positive return from this fixture in four years.

Sadly, and understandably, they have not won another league game since. Collecting two points from a possible fifteen, Derry's relative goal difference over this five game span stands at -6; after their first four league games it was +10.

Difficult though it undoubtedly may be to locate a competitive coherence at this time, the complex suitability of that closing line in Beckett's The Unnamable signals Derry's only available option; 'I can't go on, I'll go on.'

Successive 1-1 draws with Sligo Rovers and Limerick on Tuesday night signify a slight upturn in Derry's fortunes. Albeit two points gained against two clubs that have already parted with their respective managers, positivity must be wrought from wherever possible as they welcome an increasingly desperate St. Pats tonight.

With their rescheduled fixture away to Galway United due to be played on Monday, May 5^th, Derry will feel that tonight's match, as well as the subsequent home fixture against Bohemians next Friday, represent three games whereby they may relocate some momentum at the expense of three struggling sides.

With Barry McNamee's five goals this season already equalling his previous best return, Shiels will once again be looking to the Donegal native for some much needed attacking ingenuity.

By and large, Derry City are better than their 14 points thus far indicates. Whether or not they are capable of redeeming some of the ground lost to Cork, Dundalk, Bray and Limerick remains to be seen.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

Derry had become something of a happy hunting-ground for St. Pats in recent years. Unbeaten in their last five league visits to the Brandywell, Liam Buckley may have had reason to be hopeful of St. Pats' ability to extend the one redeeming feature of an otherwise disappointing season thus far; adequate away form. Yet, with comforts few and far between for Buckley's struggling side, the proposition of a three and a half hour journey to the north of Donegal may be daunting.

Collecting five of their eight points away, to Sligo Rovers (have since parted with manager Dave Robertson), Bohemians (poorest goal difference in the league) and Galway United (yet to win a league game this season), Buckley's team remain reasonably capable at least of claiming – or, indeed, sharing – the points with those sides surrounding them at the bottom.

Bemoaning the shallow, ineffectual nature of their passing against league leaders Cork City last week, Buckley, speaking to the club's website, was equally wary of the 'stupid mistakes' exacerbating St. Pat's on-field issues this season. Although 'quitting the mistakes' is perhaps easier said than done, a week spent training on their efficiency within the final-third may garner more immediate returns against a Derry side that has conceded ten goals in their last five outings.

Necessitating a trip to Cork on Monday, St. Pats will continue their attempt to claim a third League Cup title in succession. Perhaps hopeful that City's league focus will disarm their cup ambitions, a subsequent league fixture away to the high-flying Bray Wanderers provides St. Pats with a foundation – albeit fraught with potential dangers – upon which Buckley hopes they might just 'start a run', and elevate themselves above their current station.

This however largely depends on tonight's proceedings. Highlighting the young profile of both teams, Buckley will undoubtedly look to the likes of Gavin Peers, Ian Bermingham and Conan Byrne for the assurances they may provide a team still 'bedding in'.

With five of those who started last season's equivalent match no longer available to Buckley, a squad averaging at just twenty-four years of age would benefit greatly from a win tonight for the confidence it may instil, if not the much needed three points it would guarantee.

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

Derry City: last five league games LLLDD

St. Patrick's Athletic: last five league games WWLDL

BETTING

Derry City evens; Draw 12/5; St. Patrick's Athletic 14/5

PREDICTION

Derry City 2 – 1 St. Patrick's Athletic

Derry City

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.

St Patrick's Athletic

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.