Derry City v Bohemians (Premier Division)

Football’s a simple old game really, sack your manager and you’re pretty much guaranteed a result in your next game. That was the case for Bohemians who last week ended their 8-year partnership with Keith Long before the Gypsies shocked the league leaders and Dublin foes Shamrock Rovers in the derby at Dalymount Park (1-0). Long’s former first-team coach and ex-Bohs skipper Derek Pender oversaw that famous win and if he can get something out of the Brandywell on Friday he’ll be well in the mix for the job full-time. 

That result in the Dublin Derby has suddenly blown the title race wide open again with Derry City now just four points behind having not lost a game domestically since May while some classic off-field admin drama this week saw Dundalk awarded a 3-0 win after their 2-0 loss in Sligo due to the home side fielding a suspended player. That result moves Dundalk back above Derry City and just three points behind Shamrock Rovers, albeit both sides chasing Rovers have played more games than the defending champions. 

However, with Rovers now set to embark on a grueling Europa Conference League campaign as well as trying to balance a tilt at completing the domestic double, there’s a growing belief in Derry that they can put a serious squeeze on the Hoops over the coming weeks. 

Shamrock Rovers look to have been handed the ideal return to domestic action this coming Sunday with a home game against Finn Harps which means Derry City and Dundalk simply must win their respective games this weekend. 

That will not be an easy task for Derry given Bohs new found belief but the return to fitness of Michael Duffy could make all the difference between now and the end of the season. Duffy netted his first goal of the campaign in the 3-0 win at home to UCD last time out while the likes of Patrick McEleney has finally managed to get consistent runs of games and minutes under his belt after a stop start campaign through injury. 

Recent arrival from Longford Town, Ryan Graydon has made a big impact with his pace and trickery while former Forest Green midfielder Diallo has also given this City side a new dynamic going forward. This is now a much stronger-looking Derry City squad all over and with a huge home crowd behind them, now is the time to really put on a show and finish the season strongly. 

The Candystripes have won two of the three H2H meetings with Bohemians this season with the other game ending in a draw. Emotionally, last week must have taken a lot out of the Bohs players so a trip up to Derry is probably the last thing they needed, I fully expect Derry to exploit that and come away with a big three points. 

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Drogheda United v St.Patrick’s Athletic (Premier Division)

St.Patrick’s Athletic will be feeling hard done by this morning after Dundalk FC had a 2-0 loss in Sligo upgraded to a 3-0 win by the league’s disciplinary committee due to the home side fielding a suspended player. Pats had managed to move to within two points of Dundalk and a place in the automatic European qualification places for next season but they must now put that inconvenience out of mind and go again on the pitch. 

The Saints have reacted wonderfully to their harsh European exit against CSKA Sofia by winning four from four since and they still stand every chance of catching a less than convincing Dundalk side between now and the end of the season. Of course, even a fourth-placed finish may be enough for European Football again next season should Shamrock Rovers, Derry City or Dundalk win the FAI cup. 

As for Drogheda, they’ve been safe from relegation for many many months now and perhaps that’s beginning to show with just one win from their last six in all competitions. The Louth men were particularly poor away to Sligo last time with some real lackluster defending handing the hosts a 2-0 win but of course, the Drogs are a much tougher nut to crack at home. 

Drogheda have only lost four times at home this term, they hold the fifth-best home record in the division, but St.Pat’s are one of the few sides that have truly humbled Kevin Doherty’s men this season with 4-0 and 3-0 victories in their last two H2H encounters. 

It’s difficult to replicate that “must win” edge at this time of the year when one team simply needs the points more than the other and with work undoubtedly ongoing behind the scenes at Drogheda to try and retain their best talents from next season, perhaps St.Pat’s will be better focused to deliver what’s required in this fixture. 

St.Pat’s top players are firing on all cylinders at present with Chris Forrester scoring two goals in his last three games while Serge Atakyi has undoubtedly helped bring more out of the players around him since his arrival into Irish football. 

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Athlone Town v Wexford (Division 1)

Despite being winless in their last four league matches, Wexford FC have put in some fantastic performances of late, particularly against the division’s better sides, so Friday’s trip to Athlone looks a welcome opportunity to use the positives from recent performances and get back to winning ways. 

It’s no secret Wexford’s Achilles heel this season has been defending and trying to keep clean sheets, however, going forward Wexford have been a joy to watch with Ian Ryan’s men bagging at least two goals in five of their last six in all competitions (including extra-time). Coming up against the country’s second leakiest defence should offer Wexford plenty of opportunities in front of goal in the Midlands on Friday night. 

However, Wexford will have to get the balance right and not over-commit as Athlone Town have found they net at least once in 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions. In saying that, Wexford will be well aware of what’s required on Friday night having beaten Athlone in all three meetings so far this year and they’ve actually won five on the spin against the Westmeath men. 

With Wexford FC now six points outside of the play-off places and with the games running out fast, this is a must-win game against the league’s bottom side and I fully expect them to embrace the pressure and thrive under it, as that is the mentality their sought after manager Ian Ryan has instilled since his arrival last season. 

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Treaty United v Bray Wanderers (Division 1)

While Treaty United have struggled for consistency at times this season (mainly due to rarely having a fully fit squad as explained in previous previews), Tommy Barrett’s side are now within touching distance of securing a place in the end-of-season play-offs for the second year in a row. For a club that only joined the League of Ireland last year, that would be a truly remarkable achievement and it should be something Bray Wanderers as a club takes note of. 

As covered throughout the year here on Andy’s Bets Club, Bray Wanderers have been in crisis mode from day one this season both on and off the pitch. However, the Seagulls enjoyed some rare joy in a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Athlone Town last time out while a newly formed independent supporters group seems to be making some sort of inroads with the club’s hierarchy in terms of improving relations between the fans, the town, and the club’s decision-makers. 

The play-off dream has well and truly sailed for Bray and their only thoughts now should be continuing to work with whoever is required to improve the club’s reputation in the local community and building a far stronger and more competitive team for next season. 

Focusing back on promotion-chasing Treaty, there’s no doubt they would have gathered up a few more points this season if their main striker Enda Curran had been available for selection more often. The former league winner with Athlone Town has a remarkable strike-rate of 11 goals in just 18 appearances this season and if Tommy Barett and the medical team can keep the Galwegian fit then they’ll cause plenty of sides a problem between now and the end of the year. 

Curran has bagged five goals in his last six league matches including a brace against Bray in a 2-0 win at their place back in July so expect the Treaty striker to be a constant threat throughout this one on Friday night. 

Only the top three sides in the division have managed to leave the Market Fields with a win this season and with a place in the play-offs now within touching distance, expect a far more focused Treaty side to get the job done against a Bray side who are in need of open heart surgery ahead of next season. 

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