League Preview: Derry City -v- Shamrock Rovers

DERRY CITY

The Candystripes will host a Hoops side who sit top of the table with six wins from six on Sunday evening at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium (kick off 5pm). The match is been shown live on eirSport and so will not be available to viewers in Ireland via a WatchLOI pass.

Declan Devine’s men can move fourth above St. Patrick’s Athletic if they can claim all three points – City had an impressive 2-0 away win over the Saints in their last outing. 

Speaking ahead of the game to his club’s media team, Devine spoke about his team’s excellent performance in Inchicore and the challenge the team face against a Hoops side with their 100% record so far in the campaign.

"We played really well and it was much more like the performance we're capable of, but the matches are coming thick and fast and there isn't much time to dwell on results, good or bad,” said Devine about the win over the Saints.

"We've worked hard this week to prepare for Rovers. It's a big game, of course it is, but they're all big games. We've just 12 matches left in the season so everyone is desperate for points.

"Nobody needs me to tell them that Shamrock Rovers are a quality team - they're as good a footballing side as I've seen in this league. They haven't dropped a point yet this season but we're a decent side ourselves and we have to focus on that."

Devine has further options available to him. Having spent time in quarantine James Akintunde scored on his debut against Pats last Monday, and Darren Cole was able to be named on the bench having recovered from his ACL injury. Adam Hammill is now part of Devine’s squad following quarantine.

SHAMROCK ROVERS



The Hoops travelled up to Derry on the eve of the Sunday’s game as they seek to win their seventh straight game of this disjointed 2020 season.

Should the Hoops secure that victory they will move six points clear of second placed Bohemians – who beat Dundalk 2-1 on Friday to push the Lilywhites down to third five points behind the Hoops.

Rovers were able to ease themselves back into things last weekend on the season’s restart with a 3-1 home win over Finn Harps. All the goals came in the first half with strikes from Jack Byrne, Dylan Watts and Aaron McEneff. The Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley was full of praise for the quality of those goals and the goalscorers.  

“It was fantastic,” said Bradley about Jack Byrne’s direct free kick when talking to shamrockrovers.ie. “When you see it from behind the goal it shows how good it was. Jack has that quality and anywhere around the goal, he’s dangerous. It was a very good strike.

“Dylan’s goal was really well-worked and Aaron’s was a fantastic strike. I thought Aaron was excellent on the day and I was delighted for him to get his goal.”

Bradley felt that the behind-closed-doors element of the match accounted for the Hoops stepping off the peddle somewhat after half time. “It’s obviously strange. The second half showed that when we had that little lull, the crowd aren’t there to get you through it and to lift you again. 



“But we’ve experienced it now and experienced when we’re winning the game. So that’s a big positive that we can take out of it and we have to learn and adapt to that very quickly because that’s the way it’s going to be going forward now.”

Having lost to Sligo on their own re-start, Derry were much more impressive in their win over St. Patrick’s Athletic last Monday evening.

“I thought they were excellent against St Pat’s, they won the game and they were really good. We know it’s going to be a difficult game but it’s a game we’re really looking forward to and one we’re ready for.

Referee: Derek Tomney

MATCH STATS

The Hoops won three games against the Candystripes last year – a 2-0 victory in the first game in Tallaght that season along with 1-0 and 2-0 wins in the Brandywell. Derry came from two goals down in Tallaght in June to draw 2-2 in the other league encounter.

It is three years since Derry last beat the Hoops – that was a 2-0 win in the Bogside in August 2017. 

Rovers are on a run of nine straight league wins – it is their best run since 1966.

BETTING

Derry 4/1; Draw 5/2; Rovers 8/13.

PREDICTION

1-0 away win 

Derry City

Injured: None. 

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Sean Kavanagh.

Doubtful: Neil Farrugia.

Suspended: None.

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile