League Preview: UCD -v- Cork City

UCD

UCD will be hoping to give their First Division title hopes a welcome shot in the arm on Friday night when they host leaders Cork City at the UCD Bowl (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Students sit in third place but are already seven points behind the Leesiders after just nine games played this season.

And should they see off Tim Clancy’s City in Dublin 4, they will reduce the deficit to just four points.

Willie O’Connor’s charges however are unbeaten in their last five games with three wins and two draws.

They have drawn their last two games against Finn Harps (1-1) and Kerry (1-1).

But they will be encouraged that they have recovered from a run of three successive defeats earlier this season.

Ronan Finn is expected to be their sole absentee on Friday night.

CORK CITY

League leaders Cork City will be looking to stretch their lead at the top of the table.

Finn Harps trail City at the top of the table by three points while third placed UCD are seven points behind.

But despite their lead at the top of the pile, boss Clancy has warned his side that promotion will not come easy this year.

“At the end of the day, we have to win as many games as possible and try not to worry about other teams,” he told the Cork Echo last weekend. 

"Obviously, be very respectful of the opposition we are playing against. 

"You’ve seen there are spells where we have been very good in games and others where we have had to really dig in to frustrate other teams and stop them from scoring.

“But I would expect the season is going to be right to the wire with multiple teams at the top of the league."

Referee: Ray Matthews.

MATCH STATS

UCD have won two of their last three home league games against Cork City, but lost the most recent encounter last season when they slumped to a 2-0 loss against the Leesiders in the Premier Division.

Cork City are unbeaten away from home in the First Division this season. But they have only claimed a victory in one of their four outings, which came in a hard-fought 2-0 win over basement side Longford Town.

Jack Doherty is the top scorer in the second tier this season, bagging five goals already. He is closely followed by UCD’s Ciaran Behan who has found the back of the net on four occasions.

PREDICTION

UCD 2-1 Cork City

UCD

Injured: Ronan Finn.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Cork City

Injured: Malik Dijksteel.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.