League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Derry City

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United will be looking to pick up three points for the first time in five games as they welcome Derry City to Weaver Park on Friday evening.

The men from Louth started the month of May with a point after a 1-1 draw with Damien Duff’s Shelbourne on Monday.

Freddie Draper scored his second goal in as many games to put the Drogheda ahead before Evan Caffrey equalised for Shelbourne, sharing the spoils.

Kevin Doherty’s men got points on the board after losing 3-2 to Dundalk in a hectic Louth derby, giving a good account of themselves in the game which was decided by an injury-time winner.

In the meeting between Drogheda United and Derry City earlier this season, the Boynesiders came out on top thanks to Elicha Ahui’s first goal of this season.

This is the last time Drogheda United won a game in the league, with their last home win coming in early March against Sligo Rovers.

Captain Gary Deegan will return from suspension after being sent off against Dundalk last Friday and missing the game against Shelbourne.

DERRY CITY

Derry City was on the wrong end of another disappointing result at home this season, losing 2-0 to Stephen Bradley’s formidable-looking Shamrock Rovers.

Although fantastic goals from Richie Towell and Jack Byrne were the difference between the two teams, Derry City has been finding it difficult to impose themselves at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

This is the third time Candystripes has lost at home this season, losing to Bohemians and this Friday's opponents, failing to score in any of the three fixtures.

Luckily for Ruaidhri Higgins’ men, they have been more than good enough on the road and this has seen Derry City settle into third place in the league table.

Ahead of the trip to Drogheda, Higgins reflected on the loss to Shamrock Rovers the last time out at home and hopes his team will perform to the level of their last victory, a 2-0 win against St. Patrick’s Athletic.

“It’s a strange league so far this year and teams are taking points off each other just about every week.”

“Of course, the mood was low on Monday night but as the week has gone on there’s been a really buoyant and upbeat feel around the squad.”

“Drogheda is a very difficult venue to go but we’ll look to re-set from a fantastic performance against St Pats at the weekend and go there to try to win three points.”

Referee: Damien MacGraith

MATCH STATS

Drogheda is the second lowest-scoring team in the division with 11 goals scored while Derry City is tied with Shelbourne for the best defensive record conceding just 10 goals.

The Candystripes have won 14 of their 22 points this season on the road – the same amount of points that Drogheda have accumulated in the league in total this season.

The last four fixtures have been close-run affairs, with three draws preceding Drogheda’s win at the Brandywell earlier this season.

BETTING

Drogheda United 15/4, Draw5/2, Derry City 4/6.

PREDICTION

Drogheda 0 - 2 Derry City

Drogheda United

Injured: Ben Curtis, Evan Weir, Darragh Noone

Doubtful: Jarlath Jones

Suspended: None

Derry City

Injured: Mark Connolly, Cameron Dummigan, Colm Whelan

Doubtful:  None

Suspended:  None