EA CUP Preview: Derry City -v- Dundalk

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Tue, May 27 2014




 

DERRY CITY

Derry welcome Premier Division leaders Dundalk to the Brandywell on Tuesday night for their EA Sports Cup Quarter Final bout. Kick Off has been set for 7.45 pm.

 

Derry have had an eventful start to the 2014 season with a change of manager and rumours of rifts within the squad. The clubs supporters will be hoping that they will finally have something to cheer about by booking their place into the semi finals of the League Cup.

 

The club from the northern tip of the country have no major injury or suspension worries heading into what should make for an interesting night of cup football.

 

DUNDALK

A tough schedule for Stephen Kenny's crew continues on Tuesday as they travel north to take on Derry City. Many League of Ireland fans and pundits now consider Dundalk to be the favourites to claim the Premier Division title so they head into this game in confident mood.

 

Three games last week will almost certainly insure a rotation is in place for this Quarter Final affair. With another three games spaced over the next week it will come as a relief to fans of the Lilywhites that Stephen Kenny only has two current injury concerns with one of them being long term absentee Stephen O'Donnell. The other missing personnel is John Mountney who is not going to be rushed back from a troublesome groin injury.

 

Stephen Kenny, speaking ahead of the game, praised the clubs youth system and how happy he was with the progress that has been made at the football club since he took the reigns.

 

"We are all looking forward to the game against Derry City. They are a good side who have a good history in this competition so we will be ready for that challenge. I am committed, like everyone at the club, to developing youth so a lot of the young players will play in the game."

 

"This is an ideal opportunity to utilise the squad and the younger members will get minutes that will help their development and it also gives those who haven’t played a lot a chance to get some time on the pitch. "

 

"It is a Cup quarter-final and there is a semi-final at stake here. We all want to get to the latter stages so we will be approaching the game in a professional manner and going to win.”

 

Referee: Unknown

 

 

MATCH FACTS

In the last round Dundalk overcame Bray Wanderers and you can expect to see a similarly weakened line up once again on Tuesday night.

 

Dundalk have managed to score 35 goals this season compared to 10 for Derry City.

 

When you look to the head-to-head stats they are amazingly even with Dundalk having a win percentage of 42.4% as opposed to Derry's 36.4%.

 

 

BETTING

Derry City 2/1; Draw 23/10; Dundalk 5/4.

 

PREDICTION

Derry City 1-3 Dundalk

 

 

Derry City

Injured: Unavailable
Doubtful: Unavailable
Suspended: None

 

Dundalk

Injured: Stephen O'Donnell (Knee)
Doubtful: John Mountney
Suspended: None