Wexford Youths -v- Derry City

• Simon O'Gorman
• Thu, Jun 02 2011


Wexford Youths will have an opportunity to banish the worries that surround founder Mick Wallace’s financial woes for one night at least when Derry City roll into town for their FAI Cup third round clash on Friday night. (Kick off, 8pm)

These two sides couldn’t be approaching this tie from more different positions. Wexford have struggled in this season’s First Division, losing their opening four games before finally registering a win away at Limerick FC. Matters have hardly improved since then with only one more victory in the subsequent eight league games.

Derry, meanwhile, have enjoyed a terrific run of form since their return to the Premier Division, currently sitting third in the table, just three points shy of leaders Shamrock Rovers. The Candystripes have lost only three of their league games this season and are the league’s top scorers with 31, knocking seven past UCD and bagging six against Galway United last Monday night.

Eamon Zayed heads Derry’s scoring charts with 11 league goals to date but James McClean has contributed seven while Gareth McGlynn has rowed in with a further six. Wexford, on the other hand, have managed only three clean sheets in 2011, one of which came against Drogheda United in the Leinster Senior Cup.

At the other end, Wexford boss Noel O’Connor would no doubt like to have such a spread of goal-scorers at his disposal. While Danny Furlong has struck seven league goals (nine in total) no-one else in a Wexford shirt has managed more than one.

Regardless, O’Connor has no intention of abandoning the 4-3-3 formation of his side. “Attack is the best form of defence”, said O’Connor, “and with this group of players it doesn’t suit them not to stand off the ball, I think it leaves us exposed when we do that”

The Cup will always throw up surprise results as stronger teams rest established players and weaker teams rise to the occasion but it is hope rather than expectation that will fuel the home side on Friday night.

Wexford Youths
Injured: Anthony Russell.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

Derry City
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: Unavailable.

Referee: James McKell.
Paddy Power Odds: Wexford 9/1; Draw 5/1; Derry 1/5.
Extratime prediction: Derry to win 3-0.