Derry City -v- St Patrick's Athletic

DERRY CITY

Derry City entertain an unbeaten St Patrick’s Athletic side decimated by a number of injuries to key men, at the Brandywell on Friday evening (kick off 7.05pm).

Stewart Greacen (knee), Owen Morrison (calf), Rory Patterson (ankle) and Shane McEleney (knee) are all ruled out of the game, whilst Mark Farren, Stephen McLaughlin and Kevin Deery will be given to the last possible moment to declare themselves fit.

On top of that Patrick McEleney will serve a one match suspension after his dismissal last week. Manager Declan Devine told the Derry News " t's been a difficult period. We've been down a lot of bodies but we've shown great spirit and character. The players have been fantastic. We've been disappointed to drop points in games were we should have gotten something but I'm confident if they continue to show that character then coming into the next phase of games we can be back in the mix up. Pats are a very good side but this game is an opportunity for us to show what we can do".

Devine may be forced to turn to youth with Ryan Curran, Michael Barr, Caoimhin Bonner and Barry McNamee all expected to be in the squad.

ST PATRICKS ATHLETIC

The Saints are on the road for the second successive week as they travel to the Brandywell to face Derry City as they aim to continue their current unbeaten start to the 2012 league campaign.

Having drawn four of five away games in the league to date, the Saints will be hoping to claim the points against the Candystripes, though recent results between the sides suggest the Saints will not have it all their own way.

Derry are unbeaten in their last nine fixtures against Pats in all competitions, while it is almost four years since the Saints’ last victory on Foyleside, Mark Quigley scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win in June 2008.

For full-back Ger O’Brien, the game represents a chance for the Inchicore side to push on from the point earned in Sligo last week.

“Last week we played quite well, and to come away from Sligo disappointed with a draw, that can only be a good thing considering how well Sligo have played lately,” he told stpatsfc.com.

“But it’s going to be another tough trip this Friday against Derry.  I know they’re missing a few players, but they’ve still got a really good squad and it’s never an easy place to go to, especially as they are playing really well too. So we’ll have to make sure we play like we have in the past few weeks, because if we do that, I think we have a chance.”

Saints’ manager Liam Buckley echoed O’Brien’s evaluation of Derry, commenting that Derry’s recent victories in the Setanta Cup highlighted the work of new manager Declan Devine and that the Candystripes would test the Saints this Friday.

“Derry are in fine form lately and the work that Declan Devine has done there to date has been tremendous,”  Buckley said when speaking to stpatsfc.com

“To make the Setanta Cup Final in his first season in charge is a great achievement, especially given the tough games they had to get there against Linfield and Shamrock Rovers.There’s no easy games in this league, but Derry in the Brandywell is always a challenge and it will be a tough game.”

Referee: Tom Connolly.

MATCH STATS

Derry City have not registered a win in their last five league games.

Former Derry City fan’s player of the year, Ger O'Brien, returns to the Brandywell for St Pats.

RTE will be screening the fixture, hence the 7.05 kick off.

BETTING

Derry City 13/8; Draw 11/5; St Patricks Athletic 13/8.

PREDICTION

1-1

Derry Injury News: Stewart Greacen (knee), Owen Morrison (calf), Rory Patterson (foot), Shane McEleney (knee).

Derry Doubtful: Stephen McLaughlin (hamstring), Kevin Derry (knee), Mark Farren (hamstring).

Derry Suspension News: Patrick McEleney.

St Pats Injury News: James Chambers, Aidan Price.

St Pats Suspension News: None.