League Preview: Dundalk -v- Derry City

David Parkhouse leads the Derry City celebrations for Cameron McJannet's goal against Dundalk last April

David Parkhouse leads the Derry City celebrations for Cameron McJannet's goal against Dundalk last April Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)

DUNDALK

The Lilywhites had only one win in their previous four outings when they made the short trip to the neighbours Drogheda United last Friday night. However the slender 1-0 win in that derby game will give them some degree of confidence when they face an improving Derry City at Oriel Park on Friday.

The instability that surrounded Dundalk all season continued unabated over the last two weeks with the return on Vinny Perth as manager for his second spell, the impending departure of club legend Chris Shiels being announced and ongoing talk of a ‘clear out’ of some of the playing staff.

Dundalk are languishing in seventh position in the league table on 21 points and having only picked up one point against the bottom two sides, Longford Town and Waterford United, confidence must be low despite grinding out that win over Drogheda last weekend.

Their ability to compete with the stronger sides in the league will be tested over the next two weeks, for as well as hosting Derry City this Friday night, they then have to take on the champions Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght a week later.

Speaking to the Dundalk media team after the Drogheda match, goal scorer Michael Duffy said ‘’tonight was a battle, it was not pretty at times but we got the three points, that was the main thing.

"We did not have a lot of the ball tonight but I though our backs were brilliant, big Sonni (Sonni Nattestad) and Boyler (Andy Boyle) made some unbelievable tackles and headers.‘’

He went on to add ‘’tonight was just a fight but that was the way we used to win games before, we now need to get back to winning like this. We know we should not be where we are but that is what it has been like this season and we know we have to turn it around now.‘’

In relation to the overall situation at the club the Derry native said ‘’a bit of stability is what we need, it’s been up and down all season, nobody really knows what is going on but after our good performance against Longford and then the good fight we put up tonight against Drogheda it is going in the right direction.”

The game against Derry will mark the end of an era as it will be the last game for Chris Shields, the 30-year-old Dubliner and club legend has signed a three-year-deal with Linfield FC in the Danske Bank Premiership in Northern Ireland.



DERRY CITY

The Candystripes have been on an outstanding unbeaten run in the league for two months, they have not lost a game since their home defeat to Finn Harps back on 3 May.

Since then they have won three and drawn five games, picking up 14 points and propelling themselves up to sixth place in the league, only 12 points behind leaders St. Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers and within touching distance of a top four spot.

The Ruaidhri Higgins effect is definitely a big factor as they have become a very difficult side to play against since he took over as manager earlier in the season.

Midfielder Will Patching, on loan from Dundalk, has been their stand out performer on the pitch during this period and had contributed more goals and assists combined (10) than anybody else in the league up to the last series of games on Friday 18 June.

He has since overtaken by another ex-Dundalk player Georgie Kelly whose five goals in his last two games puts him ahead on an 11-goal total.



Derry will be impacted by the instability at Dundalk this season as new Dundalk manager Vinny Perth has recalled Patching to Oriel Park as his loan period is up so the Sligo game will be his last for Higgins’s side.

20-year-old defender Ronan Boyce was the hero for Derry in their last match as he scored the equalising goal in the 86th minute at the Brandywell to secure a point against Sligo Rovers on Monday 21 June.

Ramelton born Boyce spoke to the Derry City media team after the Sligo game saying ‘’we have very high standards here at this club since the new manager came in. Even though we were 1-0 down against Sligo and came back to get a draw, we are disappointed not to take all three points.

"Matches are coming thick and fast now, but we are a very fit side, we worked hard in pre-season and it stands to us now.’’

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

March 2017 was the last time Derry City managed to beat Dundalk in a league match, a 3-1 win at home, but since then Dundalk have been the dominant team winning eight and drawing five of their previous 13 clashes.

Their most recent match was in the Brandywell on 20 April, that resulted in a 1-1 draw, David McMillan scoring for the visitors in the 53rd minute only for Cameron McJannet to equalise in the 61st minute.

BETTING

Dundalk 4/6; Draw 5/2; Derry City 15/4

PREDICTION

Dundalk 1-1 Derry City 

Dundalk

Injured: Daniel Cleary, Brian Gartland

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Derry City

Injured: Eoin Toal, Marc Walsh 

Doubtful: Patrick Ferry

Suspended: None

 

 

 

 

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