Drogheda United made the short trip to UCD this Friday evening as they look to pull clear of bottom placed Bray Wanderers. (Kick Off 7.45pm)

Coming into this crucial fixture, both teams have endured a run of poor form.UCD are five games without a win while United have not since mid-July against Sporting Fingal.

This has not escaped the notice of the Drogheda camp. “UCD are on a bad run at the moment so something has got to give tomorrow night and hopefully it will go in our favour", commented assistant manager Darius Kierans.

Although Kierans was quick to add that despite UCD gaining the upper hand in four of the years five encounters, he is looking to the positives. "UCD have beaten us four times this season, but we did win the most recent clash so that’s something positive to take."

The Students are missing a number of players with Andy Boyle joining the longterm injury absentee's David McMillan and Sean Harding. The loss of McMillan has perhaps been more problematic for UCD having netting only three in their last five league fixtures. Meanwhile Brian Shorthall and Chris Mulhall have their names on this week’s naughty list, as they are among the suspended for the tie.

Managers are always looking for performances from their players but for these two sides, it is a case of performances not being converted into points which has them lying low in the rankings. Aware of this, the Drogs assistant manager stated that all is happy despite the recent losses. “At the moment morale is high in the dressing room, we have been putting in some good performances but just not getting the results and it’s now that we need to get them."

As ever, the playoff / relegation battle is never far from the thoughts of the teams hovering around the drop zone. "We are coming to the business end of the season and there is still a lot to play for", Kierans says.

Bray Wanderers are the only team below the two sides who face off in Fridays clash. The Boynesiders lie in ninth place, with the Students ahead in eight. However the boys from UCD do have a twelve point advantage over the County Louth team. Needless to say both will be looking to end their run of bad luck and get back to winning ways.

paddypower.com odds: UCD 5/6 Draw 9/4 Drogheda United 11/4
Referee: R. Rogers
Venue: UCD Bowl

Drogheda United:
Doubtful: None
Injured: Brendan McGill, Jamie Harris
Suspended: Corey Treacy

UCD:
Doubtful: None
Injured: Andy Boyle, David McMillan, Sean Harding
Suspended: Chris Mulhall, Brian Shortall

Extratime.ie Prediction: Draw match, although either side could steal the three points with a narrow victory.