Shamrock Rovers -v- Derry City

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Fri, Jul 12 2013




SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers host Derry City this Friday evening in the Premier Division in a game which could have massive knock on effects for both teams.

Rovers went down 4-0 in the first of their mid season friendlies on Monday. Barry Murphy looks set for a spell on the sidelines after badly bruising his ribs during that game against Birmingham. David Elbert continues to suffer from a calf problem but other than that Trevor Croly has no other injury worries ahead of this game.

Eamon Zayed is expected to be named in the squad having received his international clearance during the week with the striker having also made his debut against Birmingham City last Monday. Croly is under no illusions as to how big this game is for his side and knows a win for his side will give his side a massive confidence boost after last weeks scoreless draw with Bray Wanderers.

“This is a big game against Derry City as we move into the business end of the season. It’s a game that players, fans and everyone associated with both clubs will be looking forward to. Derry have had a very good season so far and they are sure to be a tough test for us. Both sides will be looking for the win and that should make it a good game.”

 

DERRY CITY

Second place Derry City make the trip south to Tallaght Stadium to take on Shamrock Rovers on Friday evening with a win on the night moving Derry  level on points with St Patrick's Athletic who don’t play till Sunday afternoon.

Derry have a number of injury concerns ahead of the game but will also have to deal with the threat posed by former striker Eamon Zayed who is expected to lead the Rovers attack. Seven first team players have been ruled out through injury for the Candystripes as the club heads into a busy part of the season with European games coming up.

Patrick McEleney, Ruaidhri Higgins, Barry Molloy, Kevin Deery, Thomas Crawley, Dean Jarvis and Sean Houston form the injured party but the bad news doesn’t stop there for Declan Devine as Rory Patterson also faces a late fitness test.

There is however some bright news if you are a Derry City fan as David McDaid has been given international clearance to play for the club. McDaid scored against Rovers last season and will be raring to go having been training with Derry for a number of weeks now.

Despite the slight injury crisis facing Derry, Declan Devine was still in confident mood when speaking about Friday night's game. "It doesn’t come any bigger than Derry City v Shamrock Rovers, two huge clubs with a lot of history between them. We won the last game between the two sides but Trevor has them playing very well at the minute so we know that going to Tallaght on Friday evening is going to be a very tough assignment for us. In spite of that, we have a very good record in Tallaght. We have picked up a couple of wins there since Rovers moved in, so we will certainly go down to Tallaght with a lot of confidence and mount a good challenge."


Referee: Padraigh Sutton

 

Match Facts

Eamon Zayed is once again set to return to one of his former clubs.

In 58 previous meeting between the sides Derry have averaged 0.88 goals per game against Shamrock Rovers.

Rovers have a plus 13 goal difference in their nine home games so far this year.

 

Betting

Shamrock Rovers 10/11 Draw 9/4 Derry City 3/1

 

Prediction

This is certainly the best game available on Friday night and I am predicting that we will see goals but with both sides evenly matched it will finish 2-2

 

Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Barry Murphy (ribs), David Elbert (calf)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None

 

Derry City
Injured: Patrick McEleney, Ruaidhri Higgins, Barry Molloy, Kevin Deery, Thomas Crawley, Dean Jarvis, Sean Houston
Doubtful: Rory Patterson
Suspended: None