League Preview: Derry City -v- Dundalk

• Josh Dolan
• Fri, Jun 27 2014




DERRY CITY

Candystripes’ manager, Peter Hutton will be going into this Friday night’s Dundalk game looking to get his second win as Derry manger after taking the hot seat at The Brandywell last month.

 

After a rocky start to the season Hutton feels that the mid-season break was exactly what his troops needed in order to regroup and attempt to discover some form in the second half of the season.

 

“It’s been a turbulent start to the season and a break is probably what they needed as a squad ,” Hutton told The Irish Daily Star.

 

Hutton is one of many admirers of the Lilywhites and admits that he can see why they’re favourites for The SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

 

“Dundalk have shown why they are most pundits’ favourites for the for the league title this season.”

 

Central midfielder, Danny Ventre will miss the game through suspension, while defender, David Elebert is a doubt with a calf injury.

 

DUNDALK

Dundalk return to Airtricity League action against Derry City at The Brandywell on Friday night. Stephen Kenny’s side sit three points above Cork City who have a game at hand over the County Louth side.

 

The Lilywhites were in exceptional form prior to the mid-season break, dropping just one point in their last six games. This is a run manager, Stephen Kenny, is looking to continue for as long as possible, and in order to try and prevent the mid-season break from disrupting his side’s form the squad’s break was shortened.

 

“The players only took a four day break last week to make sure that our training pattern wasn’t disrupted. They have kept themselves well and all returned in good spirits after the interval,” he told dundalkfc.com.

 

Kenny, of course, managed Derry back in 2007 and he insists that his side aren’t taking Peter Hutton’s outfit lightly, but are full of confidence heading into the fixture.

 

“It is never easy going to The Brandywell, we know that, but we are confident, we are playing well and scoring a lot of goals at the moment. We have prepared well and are ready for the game.”

 

Lilywhites’ winger, Daryl Horgan, admits that he is anticipating a traditional tough fixture at The Brandywell, on Friday night.

 

“It’s nice where we are but we are taking it one game at a time and it is going to be another very tight game,” Horgan explained to dundalkfc.com.

 

Stephen Kenny will be without striker, Patrick Hoban who has a knee injury, Keith Ward is out with a back injury, Club Captain, Stephen O’Donnell remains side-lined with a long term knee injury, while David McMillan is suspended after he was sent off against St Patricks Athletic previous to the mid-season break. On a positive note, Andy Boyle is back following suspension.

 

Referee: Robert Rogers

 

 

MATCH STATS

A clean sheet for Dundalk on Friday would mean a run of four consecutive shut outs for the first time since the 2011 season.

 

Dundalk beat The Candystripes 3-0 in the side’s last league meeting.

 

If the game ends in a draw it will be the first time that Stephen Kenny will have experienced consecutive draws during his tenure at Oriel Park.

 

 

BETTING

Derry City 15/4; Draw 5/2; Dundalk 7/3.

 

PREDICTION

Derry City 1-2 Dundalk.

 

 

Derry City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: David Elebert (Calf).

Suspensions: Danny Ventre.

 

Dundalk

Injured: Stephen O’Donnell (Knee), Patrick Hoban (Knee),  Keith Ward (Back).

Doubtful: None.

Suspensions: David McMillan.