League Preview: Derry City -v- Bohemians

Red card for Bohemians

Red card for Bohemians Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

DERRY CITY

Title-chasing Derry City host Bohemians at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in a bid to get their campaign back on track (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Candystripes head into Friday’s game off the back of a humbling 4-1 loss against St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday night.

And their boss Ruaidhri Higgins is hoping that his side can bounce back as soon as possible.

“We have a very difficult game coming up, but whatever happens I have no doubt we will put out a team capable of winning,” he explained.

“We have a break after Friday and we want to go into that on a high.

“We’ve been below par for the past 10 days or so but we’ve had the necessary conversations as a group.

“We need to be fully motivated and sometimes in games you just have to dig in. As long as you come off the pitch knowing you’ve given everything, then we can work with that.

“I’m confident we will come out fighting and we all know that we need a fully committed performance this weekend.”

Colm Whelan is out for the season, while Patrick McEleney and Michael Duffy will also be ruled out for Friday’s televised tie on RTE.



BOHEMIANS

Like Derry City, Bohs will be seeking a response after they lost away to Cork City on Monday.

Bohs boss Declan Devine stressed that his side was ‘hurting’ by their loss to the Rebels – and like his opposite number Higgins – he too will be eyeing another win.

“Derry will be coming into this game hurting as well after Monday,” he said. “They’ll be expecting a performance and we’re going up there expecting a performance as well.

”I think you’ll find two teams trying to go and win the game. I don’t think it’s going to be like certain games that we’ve seen recently where teams are sitting back and holding out for a clean sheet.

“We will go there trying to win the game trying to win the game so it has the makings of two good teams going at it.



“We are concentrating ourselves, we will have a few bodies back, and we go up there with a strong squad.

“Dylan Connolly will be back and I’m hoping Johnny Afolabi will be involved too. Not having those two in the attacking third of the pitch is something that we’ve been missing over recent weeks.

“Having those two back on the panel will be massive for us. James Akintunde has come through the last couple of games after his lay-off which will stand him in good stead too so, slowly but surely, we’re delighted that we’re getting a couple of bodies back.”

Referee: Damien MacGraith.

 

PREDICTION

Derry City 2-0 Bohemians

 

Derry City

Injured: Patrick McEleney, Colm Whelan, Ciaron Harkin.

Doubtful: Michael Duffy, Cameron Dummigan.

Suspended: None.

 

Bohemians

Injured: Dean Williams.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

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