Dundalk -v- Derry City
Credit:
Dundalk host Derry City looking to go one step further after three
successive home draws, if they do manage a win Dundalk will go level
on points with their visitors but are highly unlikely to overtake them
due to the Candystripes superior goal difference.
Lilywhites on a roll
Dundalk come in to the game on the back of a 7 match unbeaten run in the league, consisting of four wins and three draws. It must be noted however that all of those draws have come at Oriel Park and if Dundalk are going to push on in the league they have to start converting those home draws into wins. Ian Foster spoke to the club magazine on the eve of the game “We come into this evening’s game boasting the only unbeaten home record left in the Premier Division, and that is a record that we are proud of. We needed to make it more difficult for opposing teams to come here and get points off us, and I believe we’ve done that. Derry City will be a wonderful test to see how far we’ve come. We have entertained Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers here and we’ve drawn both games. Can we now push on and beat one of the better teams in the division?”
Defensive strength behind Dundalk upturn
The recent run for Dundalk has been founded on good defensive displays with just three goals conceded during the run with an impressive thirteen goals scored. Keith Ward drew attention to this when speaking to the club website “Our defence has been a lot better recently and it’s showing that if we can keep a clean-sheet we can always go and score with the lads we have up front and the attacking players. Once we keep clean-sheets, we’ll win games with the forward players we have. We have worked hard in training on defending; it’s not just the defence, it’s the team. It starts from the top.” Ward also recalled the first meeting between the games when Derry ran out convincing 2-0 winners “I thought they were excellent, to be fair. I don’t think we turned up, but I thought they were brilliant that day. Their forward players were excellent; they’re a bit like us, I think. They’re more of an attacking side, so I think the game this week will be a very open game and it should be a good game to watch, especially on the telly.”
Derry looking good on the road
Derry come in to the game on the back of just a single defeat in their last seven games, that defeat coming in their last away fixture with a 3-0 reverse at Sligo Rovers. They have scored a tremendous nineteen goals in that sequence conceding just six goals. Their away form this season has been good showing just a single defeat and one draw with four victories on the road.
Kenny Confident
Derry City boss Stephen Kenny gave his thoughts on the match “Dundalk has always been a tough place to go not to mention their third generation pitch, but we will be well prepared. They have signed some top quality players, Jason Byrne for example, who has won several league titles. Last week’s draw was disappointing but our players are ready to bounce back. Dundalk are unbeaten at home this season so we want to be the first team to win there - that's the challenge for us. We've won four of our six games away from home and must build on that. Dundalk have been pushing for Europe in recent seasons and have proved that their artificial surface is beneficial to them. They have formidable home form but they also have good players. We are well capable of going and playing well there but we have to concentrate on playing well ourselves."
Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen Maher (groin), Stephen McDonnell (knee) and Jason Byrne (hamstring).
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Ross Gaynor
Derry City
Injured: Kevin Deery (calf)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Venue: Oriel Park
Referee:
Paddypower.com Odds: Dundalk: 6/4 Draw: 11/5 Derry: 17/10
Extratime.ie Prediction: 2-2 draw.
Lilywhites on a roll
Dundalk come in to the game on the back of a 7 match unbeaten run in the league, consisting of four wins and three draws. It must be noted however that all of those draws have come at Oriel Park and if Dundalk are going to push on in the league they have to start converting those home draws into wins. Ian Foster spoke to the club magazine on the eve of the game “We come into this evening’s game boasting the only unbeaten home record left in the Premier Division, and that is a record that we are proud of. We needed to make it more difficult for opposing teams to come here and get points off us, and I believe we’ve done that. Derry City will be a wonderful test to see how far we’ve come. We have entertained Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers here and we’ve drawn both games. Can we now push on and beat one of the better teams in the division?”
Defensive strength behind Dundalk upturn
The recent run for Dundalk has been founded on good defensive displays with just three goals conceded during the run with an impressive thirteen goals scored. Keith Ward drew attention to this when speaking to the club website “Our defence has been a lot better recently and it’s showing that if we can keep a clean-sheet we can always go and score with the lads we have up front and the attacking players. Once we keep clean-sheets, we’ll win games with the forward players we have. We have worked hard in training on defending; it’s not just the defence, it’s the team. It starts from the top.” Ward also recalled the first meeting between the games when Derry ran out convincing 2-0 winners “I thought they were excellent, to be fair. I don’t think we turned up, but I thought they were brilliant that day. Their forward players were excellent; they’re a bit like us, I think. They’re more of an attacking side, so I think the game this week will be a very open game and it should be a good game to watch, especially on the telly.”
Derry looking good on the road
Derry come in to the game on the back of just a single defeat in their last seven games, that defeat coming in their last away fixture with a 3-0 reverse at Sligo Rovers. They have scored a tremendous nineteen goals in that sequence conceding just six goals. Their away form this season has been good showing just a single defeat and one draw with four victories on the road.
Kenny Confident
Derry City boss Stephen Kenny gave his thoughts on the match “Dundalk has always been a tough place to go not to mention their third generation pitch, but we will be well prepared. They have signed some top quality players, Jason Byrne for example, who has won several league titles. Last week’s draw was disappointing but our players are ready to bounce back. Dundalk are unbeaten at home this season so we want to be the first team to win there - that's the challenge for us. We've won four of our six games away from home and must build on that. Dundalk have been pushing for Europe in recent seasons and have proved that their artificial surface is beneficial to them. They have formidable home form but they also have good players. We are well capable of going and playing well there but we have to concentrate on playing well ourselves."
Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen Maher (groin), Stephen McDonnell (knee) and Jason Byrne (hamstring).
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Ross Gaynor
Derry City
Injured: Kevin Deery (calf)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Venue: Oriel Park
Referee:
Paddypower.com Odds: Dundalk: 6/4 Draw: 11/5 Derry: 17/10
Extratime.ie Prediction: 2-2 draw.
