League Preview: Derry City -v- Bohemians

• Josh Dolan
• Thu, Oct 22 2015




DERRY CITY
Derry's Premier Division status for 2016 was secured following last weekend's 2-0 win away at Premier Division basement side Limerick.

City have been on a decent run of form lately and caretaker boss Paul Hegarty will be looking to extend his run of four games without a defeat when the Candystripes welcome Bohemians to the Brandywell this Friday night.

Hegarty, who stepped into the hot seat at the Brandywell following the departure of Peter Hutton in mid-September, has managed to steady the ship of late and is hopeful that his side can kick on and continue to improve in their remaining two Premier Division games.

“To be fair Bohs have had a fantastic season and Keith Long has done a great job with them, but we have been playing quite well and have been getting better each week but we would hope to try and improve a bit more against Bohs,” Hegarty begun by speaking about Friday night's opposition.

"We will also find out what the character of the players are like as we are heading towards the end of the season, we’ll see if they are mentally strong enough to go on and push on another bit, which I believe they are,” the former Finn Harps boss furthered.

Hegarty finds himself without Patrick McEleney through injury, while Rob Cornwall is suspended.


BOHEMIANS
Bohs travel North with an outside chance of nabbing fourth spot and a place in next season's Europa League.

The Gypsies lie fifth in the Premier Division table, five points of fourth place St Pat's with just two fixtures to play. However, although the Gypsies look unlikely to make Europe, manager Keith Long believes that the general Bohemians fan would've been content with that at the beginning of the season.

“We’re going into the game against Derry with an outside chance of getting into Europe, and most fair-minded people would have accepted that at the start of the season," said Long.

"Still, doing OK is not good enough for a club like Bohemians and we want to continue to improve." the Bohs boss insisted.

Long has been keeping an eye on City in the build up to Friday night's trip and he admits that he's expecting a tough tie this Friday.

“Anyone who thinks we are going up to Derry for an easy game is mistaken,” continued Long.

"We beat them 4-2 in Dalymount in one of the strangest games of the year. After we scored four goals in ten minutes Derry dominated the game.

“I expect a good game. I expect both teams to go for it, and the players to go out and express themselves. But it will be a difficult game. It’s never easy up in Derry,” the ex Bray and Athlone manager furthered.

Long will be without defensive duo Lorcan Fitzgerald and Roberto Lopes through injury, while Stephen Best is also likely to miss out despite progressing well on his return from a recent injury. However in positive news, Derek Pender and James O'Brien are set to return following respective periods on the injury table.

Referee: David McKeon

 

MATCH STATS
Only Limerick have lost more than Derry's seven home games in the Premier Division this season. However, only three of those defeats at the Brandywell have come after the mid-season break.

No side have drawn more Premier Division games than Bohemians' four this season.

St Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk are the only Premier Division sides that have netted more goals on the road than Bohemians' 23 in this season.


BETTING
Derry City 23/20; Draw 11/5; Bohemians 12/5.

PREDICTION
Derry City 2-2 Bohemians


Derry City
Injured: Patrick McEleney.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Rob Cornwall.

Bohemians
Injured: Lorcan Fitzgerald, Roberto Lopes.
Doubtful: Stephen Best.
Suspended: None.