Preview: Derry City vs Drogheda Utd
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Derry City will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten record in this year’s eircom League of Ireland Premier Division, when they take on reigning champions Drogheda United at the Brandywell this evening (kick-off 7.45pm). The Candystripes currently sit joint-second, three points ahead of their sixth placed opponents, who have yet to hit the heights of last season.
Derry have been rejuvenated under boss Stephen Kenny in the opening weeks of the season as he has instilled a new belief in the side, as they’ve scored a late goal in each of their three games to date. On the opening day, they netted a late winner away to UCD before doing the same at home to Finn Harps, while last week they grabbed a scarcely deserved point right at the death in Turners Cross.
They now entertain a Drogheda team slowly building their way into the season after they started poorly with a narrow loss to Shamrock Rovers at United Park and a drab scoreless draw away to Sligo. They got their first win of the campaign last Friday night as they brushed aside the challenge of Cobh Ramblers by 3-0, however, the scoreline was somewhat flattering.
That mattered little, though, to Drogs boss Paul Doolin, who said: “It was important to get the win. It may not have been the best game, but I think overall we were much the better the side. We got three great goals and kept a clean sheet, which was the third in a row for us, but most importantly, we got the three points. We’re getting stronger now and we’re looking forward to Derry this week.”
Team News: Drogheda remain without goalkeeper Dan Connor and defender Shaun Maher, while this match will come too early for the return of star striker Fabio O’Brien and midfielder Shane Barrett. Centre-half Jason Gavin, however, could feature. Derry are forced to do without the services of Eddie McCallion, who now serves a ban which was carried-over from last season.
