UCD -v- Derry City

UCD

After three away games on the trot against Bohemians, UCD welcome FAI Cup winners Derry City to the Belfield Bowl on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

A win in the opening game of that Dalymount Park triptych came in the Leinster Senior Cup but successive defeats to the Gypsies by single-goal margins in the opening game of the league and then the EA Sports Cup mean the Students are keen to put things right against Derry.

“Our game against Derry will be a challenge we are looking forward to,” Manager Martin Russell said.

“The FAI Cup winners are a team who will test us. Our recent games against Bohemians have again highlighted thin margins between winning and losing, and we continue to focus on performance levels to try and come out the right side of results.”

The absence of Mick Leahy and Barry McCabe through injury and Mark Langtry due to suspension could be cushioned somewhat as defender Gareth Matthews looks set to make his first start for UCD since his move from Shelbourne.

“I can't wait to get back out playing with the lads and try help the team do as well as possible and get a few wins under our belts,” Matthews said.

“Derry have made a few good signings in the off season and will always be strong in my opinion. It will be a tough game but so is every game this season so there is great chance for us to go out and test ourselves against the best.

“I think the squad we have here is talented enough to surprise a few teams hopefully this Friday is the first win and get us off the mark.”

DERRY CITY

Declan Devine’s Derry City lost 1-0 at home to champions Sligo Rovers in their opening league game but travel to UCD confident that they can replicate last season's league win at Belfield this week.

The Candystripes will also hope they can push Monday's EA Sports Cup injury-time defeat to Drogheda United out of their minds — but will have to do it without the injured Stewart Greacen, Sean Houston and Paddy Kavanagh.

"Needless to say we were very disappointed with the way we lost out to Drogheda on Monday night," Devine said.

"Having said that, we can take a lot of positives from the three games we have played so far. I feel that we have played very well in all three games and as I have already said, we have been creating chances. We just need to put them away now"

"We will travel to UCD on Friday evening under no illusion that we will need to be at the top of our game to come away with anything.

"I have great respect for Martin Russell and the teams that he has built time and time again at UCD. As always, I feel this is going to be a difficult task for us."

Derry new boy Thomas Crawley said: "Since I have came to Derry I have really settled in well. It has helped that I'm in a house with the likes of Paddy Kavanagh, which has been great.

"Hopefully when we travel to Dublin on Friday I will get another chance to show what I'm capable of. We know this is going to be a tough game and hopefully we can get a good result."

Referee: Sean Grant.

MATCH STATS

UCD and Derry City met four times last season, with the Candystripes winning twice, the Students winning once and the teams sharing the spoils on the other occasion.

UCD and Derry City's competitive games were low-scoring affairs last season. Over the four matches, Derry City scored three times and and UCD scored twice.

BETTING

UCD 21/10; Draw 11/5; Derry City 5/4. 

PREDICTION

UCD 2 - 2 Derry CIty

UCD

Injured: Barry McCabe, Mick Leahy.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Stephen Langtry.

Derry City

Injured: Stewart Greacen, Sean Houston and Paddy Kavanagh.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.