Derry City v Dundalk, Brandywell, Tuesday 7,45pm
Coverage: Drive105
Declan Devine has targeted Sunday’s Cup semi final as a crucial game in the club’s season, and may rest a number of players as bottom side Dundalk visit Brandywell tomorrow night. The Lilywhites are scrapping for points, but City are still trying to arrest an alamrning run of League form which has seen them lose five games on the spin.
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from disappointing defeats away from home last weekend in order to have some confidence before their semi-final games on Sunday. Derry’s defeat against champions elect Sligo Rovers was the Foylesiders 13th defeat of the season and a defeat that saw them now out of the running for a European place through their final league position.
Speaking ahead of this game Declan Devine said. “It’s important to get a win, it’s important to get a bit of confidence going into Sunday, but I expect the team tonight to be completely different to the team which faces Shels.”
“We have to make sure that players are available for Sunday, so we’ll see what our team situation is like closer to kick-off time tomorrow night, but at the same time I won’t be taking any risks on players who are struggling.”
“With Dundalk themselves also having a semi-final clash at home to St Patrick’s Athletic on Sunday, you would be forgiven to think they too may field and under strength side.They are fighting for their lives and they need a few points to try and avoid that relegation play-off spot, so I think it is vitally important that they get a win, but for me it’s vitally important that we too get a win and more importantly a very good performance.
“I want us to go and have a go at Dundalk and make sure that we are very positive in our approach to the game.”
Derry will be without the services of. Ruaidhri Higgins (Thigh), Barry Molloy(Hip), Stephen McLaughlin (Hamstring), Marc Brolly (Calf) and Rory Patterson (Hamstring)
