Athlone Town -v- Derry City
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Athlone Town welcome Airtricity 1st Division leaders Derry City to Athlone Town Stadium on Tuesday evening. (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Despite defending brilliantly for the majority of the game only to lose to a back post tap in 1-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers, Brendan Place will be hoping for his front men to be more clinical in front of goal. The two clubs earlier meeting this season in The Brandywell is anything to go by it will be a very tight affair after a solitary Scotlock goal separated the sides despite Athlone missing a number of first team regulars for that game.
Stephen Place has a number of injury concerns ahead of the game. Gareth Kenna (Knee), Robbie Benson (Ankle), Robbie Farrell (Stomach) and Kevin Williamson (Hamstring) are all set to miss out. Stephen Caffrey, who suffered a chest infection prior to the Sligo Rovers cup game, is rated less than 50/50 despite being prescribed a strong dose of antibiotics.
Tom O’Halloran came on as a second half sub against Sligo Rovers and, depending on how his long term knee injury reacts in the days after the game, may be in line for a place in the starting eleven.
After nine consecutive league wins, Derry have won just one of their last three games. Two successive draws against Cork City and Limerick was followed by a 2-0 win over promotion rivals Waterford United. However their two cup matches midweek failed to find a win, with a 2-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers and a 1-1 draw against Bray Wanderers.
Derry are currently seven points clear at the top of the table ahead of Waterford. Derry have won 10 of their 14 games and have been defeated just once. With Waterford going through a rough patch, Derry will look to add to their lead.
Extratime Prediction: Derry to have too much for Athlone. 2-0 to Derry.
Despite defending brilliantly for the majority of the game only to lose to a back post tap in 1-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers, Brendan Place will be hoping for his front men to be more clinical in front of goal. The two clubs earlier meeting this season in The Brandywell is anything to go by it will be a very tight affair after a solitary Scotlock goal separated the sides despite Athlone missing a number of first team regulars for that game.
Stephen Place has a number of injury concerns ahead of the game. Gareth Kenna (Knee), Robbie Benson (Ankle), Robbie Farrell (Stomach) and Kevin Williamson (Hamstring) are all set to miss out. Stephen Caffrey, who suffered a chest infection prior to the Sligo Rovers cup game, is rated less than 50/50 despite being prescribed a strong dose of antibiotics.
Tom O’Halloran came on as a second half sub against Sligo Rovers and, depending on how his long term knee injury reacts in the days after the game, may be in line for a place in the starting eleven.
After nine consecutive league wins, Derry have won just one of their last three games. Two successive draws against Cork City and Limerick was followed by a 2-0 win over promotion rivals Waterford United. However their two cup matches midweek failed to find a win, with a 2-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers and a 1-1 draw against Bray Wanderers.
Derry are currently seven points clear at the top of the table ahead of Waterford. Derry have won 10 of their 14 games and have been defeated just once. With Waterford going through a rough patch, Derry will look to add to their lead.
Extratime Prediction: Derry to have too much for Athlone. 2-0 to Derry.
