League Preview: Derry City -v- UCD

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Thu, Oct 16 2014




DERRY CITY

Derry City are preparing to welcome UCD to the Brandywell on Friday night for their last home game of the season. The game is due to get underway as per usual at 7.45pm.

 

The Candystripes will be heading into the game with just the one player unavailable, as Aaron Barry is suspended due an accumulation of yellow cards.

 

Derry have once again had a mixed season, as for the second year on the trot they have struggled to maintain any sort of consistency. Peter Hutton’s men have only managed six wins at home, although that statistic refers favourably to their away form which has seen the travelling red and white fans only celebrate gaining all three points in games on three occasions.

 

With a fully fit squad to choose from, it is likely Hutton will use this week’s game, along with next Friday’s fixture against Bohemians, as an opportunity to experiment ahead of his side’s FAI Cup Final against St Patrick’s Athletic at the start of November.

 

UCD

UCD head to the Brandywell to search for precious points in order to attempt to outlast Athlone in this two game sprint finish to the season. The Students have been in the Premier Division since 2009 and will be hoping to continue that run by beating the drop this time round.

 

Manager Aaron Callaghan has been slapped with a three game ban from the FAI for his conduct on the touchline over a week ago against Shamrock Rovers. Despite the fact that he will be forced to watch from the stands, he is hoping his side can still pick up a point against a Derry City side who may have one eye on their upcoming FAI Cup final.

 

The suspension of Callaghan means the Blues boss will miss his sixth game of the season having been banned for his first five while in the hot seat in Belfield.

 

"Derry will be full of confidence going into this game after a brilliant cup run will see them face St Patrick's Athletic in the final in two weeks. All of their players will be looking to play their way into that squad with their performances over the remaining games, starting with us on Friday."

 

Athlone will play Bray on the final day of the season which makes the importance of picking up points even more vital for assistant manager Colin O’Neil who will be the man barking the orders from the side line in Callaghan’s absence.

 

Mark Langtry is once again in contention to start after recovering from a broken ankle with Thomas Boyle returning to training mid-week meaning that the 'Boys in Blue' will just be without Dean Clarke through injury.

 

Samir Belhout is also unavailable having received two yellow cards in three second half minutes against Cork City last Friday night.

 

Referee: Tomas Connolly

 

 

MATCH STATS

Nine victories in 31 games simply isn’t good enough if you’re a Candystripes fan and although the change in manager mid-season did help to smooth things along, the board will certainly be hoping for an improvement next campaign.

 

Derry’s defence has been solid at home with Hutton’s side only conceding 13 goals compared to the Students record of conceding 41 goals away from Belfield.

 

Having the most amount of defeats in the league, Callaghan’s men are in many people’s eyes deserved relegation candidates. A staggering 20 times Robbie Benson and his fellow College players have been on the end of a defeat this season.

 

BETTING

Derry City 1/3; Draw 15/4; UCD 15/2.

 

PREDICTION

Derry City 1-1 UCD

 

 

Derry City

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Aaron Barry

 

UCD

Injured: Dean Clarke (back)

Doubtful: Thomas Boyle (hamstring)

Suspended: Samir Belhout, Aaron Callaghan