League Preview: Derry City -v- Bohemians

Derry City are back in the FAI Cup final after their 2-0 win away to Bohemians

Derry City are back in the FAI Cup final after their 2-0 win away to Bohemians Credit: Martin Doherty (ETPhotos)

DERRY CITY

Title-chasing Derry City host Bohemians at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Candystripes sit four points behind leaders Shelbourne in the league title race but do have two games in hand over the Reds.

The first of which is tonight against Bohs, while the other will be played against Sligo Rovers on Monday evening at the same venue.

Just last week, Derry defeated Bohemians 2-0 at Dalymount Park in the last four of the FAI Cup to reach next month’s Aviva Stadium decider.

And winger Michael Duffy - who scored in Dublin 7 last week - is hoping the Derry City support will get behind the team in the coming weeks.

“The fans have been unbelievable in the Brandywell these last few games,” Duffy told the Derry Journal. 

“They've helped get us through with some big results.. So it's on to Friday. I'm sure it will be a packed house. 

“We're looking forward to it. It's a massive game and hopefully we can go and get the three points.”

BOHEMIANS 



Strugglers Bohemians will be looking to pull themselves further clear of relegation trouble on Friday evening when they take on Derry City.

Bohs are only four points ahead of ninth-placed Drogheda United in the battle to avoid a relegation playoff and also bowed out of the FAI Cup last weekend against the Candystrips.

And their boss Alan Reynolds conceded his side have work to do to regain the faith of their fans after last weekend.

“We have a big couple of weeks ahead of us. It will obviously take supporters a long time to get over the disappointment of last week, and that’s on all of us,” he said.

“But as a team and backroom team, we don’t have that time. We don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves.

“We can’t turn back the clock on what’s gone before us this season. We are in a battle between now and the end of the year. There’s no hiding place, and to a man we have to stand up and be counted.”



Bohemians will be without the injured Leigh Kavanagh, James Akintunde, James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley, while Martin Miller is away on international duty with Estonia.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

 

PREDICTION

Derry City 1-1 Bohemians 

 

Derry City

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful:N/A.

Suspended:None. 

 

Bohemians

Injured: Leigh Kavanagh, James Akintunde, James McManus, Rob Cornwall, Keith Buckley.

Doubtful:None.

Unavailable:Martin Miller (international duty).

Suspended:None.

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