Europa Conference League Preview: Derry City -v- FCB Magpies

• Andrew Dempsey
• Thu, Jul 18 2024




Derry City will be hoping to salvage their European adventure on Thursday evening when they host FCB Magpies at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Candystripes trail 2-0 from the first-leg with the second clash set to be broadcast live via the link here at a cost of €10. 

And the winner of the tie will face Danish giants and Champions League group stage regulars FC Copenhagen in the second qualifying round.

DERRY CITY 

Boss Ruaidhri Higgins has called on his Derry City side to right the wrongs of their nightmare in Gibraltar last week. 

The Candystripes were off colour and were duly punished with a 2-0 loss. 

It means they must overcome a two-goal deficit - something no League of Ireland club has done before - to qualify.

And Higgins told the Derry Journal: “I've absolutely no doubt we can do something pretty special and overturn it and create another big night at the Brandywell.

“We know the prize at stake. We've given ourselves work to do, there's no doubt about that but it's certainly something we won't shy away from and certainly something that's achievable.

“Everyone was hurting after last week and rightly so. There would need to be something wrong with you if you weren't feeling pain from the result.

“We've been in all weekend, Saturday and Sunday and to be honest Sunday was probably the best training session we've had all year. It was on the money.”

FCB MAGPIES 

Led by boss Nathan Rooney, FCB Magpies will be looking to see the job through against Derry City in the Conference League. 

Bruno’s Magpies - formerly a pub team - faced Dundalk last season in the same competition before exiting to a 3-1 aggregate defeat against the Lilywhites. 

But they claimed a vital 2-0 victory over the Candystripes last week and will be hopeful that they can qualify and play against Copenhagen in the next round of the competition. 

Magpies managed to recruit former Bradford City and Aberdeen defender Ashton Taylor during their off-season. Ashton is also a former Wales under-21 international.

Striker Jack Storer - previously on the books of Birmingham City - has also joined them from English non-league outfit Stratford Town having been at the club before. 

Olatunde Bayode, once on the books of Burnley, is also back at the club. Gibraltar international goalkeeper Dayle Coleing is also expected to be first-choice between the sticks for them on Thursday after joining from Lincoln FC recently. 

Coleing played against Ireland twice in last year’s Euro 2024 qualifiers and has also been on the books of Irish League side Glentoran in the past.

Referee: Antoine Paul Chiaramonti (Andorra).

 

PREDICTION

Derry City 3-0 FCB Magpies 

 

Derry City

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful:N/A. 

Suspended: None.

 

FCB Magpies

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful:N/A. 

Suspended: None.

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