Derry vs Galway United

Separated by just three points in the bottom half of the League of Ireland Premier Division table, Derry City and Galway United will square off at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday.

The hosts have dropped to sixth spot following back-to-back defeats, while their visitors have narrowed the gap with an improved pair of results in recent weeks.

Match preview

Derry City head into action at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday aiming to bounce back from a pair of defeats and climb back towards the top end of the League of Ireland Premier Division, having suffered a dip in recent weeks.

The Candystripes recorded three straight victories in May to sit second on 26 points from their first 15 outings, having won eight and lost five of those, but they have since been able to add just one more point to that tally in three further attempts.

That began with a 1-1 draw away at Drogheda United, thanks to Dom Thomas‘s injury-time leveller, and Tiernan Lynch‘s side have since gone on to suffer back-to-back defeats, firstly hosting Shamrock Rovers and losing 2-1 despite leading 1-0 through Danny Mullen with 20 minutes to go.

Michael Noonan levelled that game and Aaron McEneff snatched all three points for the visitors one minute from time, before the Candystripes most recently visited Bohemians at the end of May and left empty-handed as Dayle Rooney‘s early penalty netted the only goal.

Now sitting sixth in the Irish top flight, but only trailing second and third-placed Drogheda United and Bohemians by three points, Derry City will aim to end their slide and rejoin the leading pack beginning with a win on Friday.

Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip aiming to leapfrog the hosts and continue an upturn in form after a recent rut.

A victory in late April saw Galway United move up to second spot in the League of Ireland Premier Division on 20 points from their first 12 outings, but they would go on to suffer four straight defeats in their next four attempts.

The Tribesmen ended that rut last month at home to Cork City, as Conor McCormack fired them to a 2-1 victory in the 84th minute, after Moses Dyer’s opener was cancelled out.

John Caulfield’s side then visited league leaders Shamrock Rovers last time out and stood strong to leave with a point from a creditable goalless draw, and now sitting seventh in the table and trailing fifth-placed Shelbourne and Friday’s hosts by three points, they will bid to make it three games unbeaten and climb into the top half with another victory.

Derry City League of Ireland Premier form:

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Galway United League of Ireland Premier form:

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Team News

Derry City will likely be without defenders Shane Ferguson and Ben Doherty on Friday, after they were forced off with injuries last time out against Bohemians, while Cameron Dummigan and Sadou Diallo remain confined to the treatment room.

Robbie Benson will also miss out after being sent off in the final 10 minutes of the loss to Bohemians, while Ronan Boyce should take Ferguson’s starting spot in defence.

Gavin Whyte, Patrick Hoban and Liam Boyce will all compete for attacking spots after Danny Mullen operated as a lone striker last time out.

Galway United will likely remain without midfielder Jimmy Keohane, who has been confined to the treatment room since mid-April.

John Caulfield may field an unchanged starting XI from their draw against Shamrock Rovers, with Rob Slevin and Garry Buckley continuing their centre-back pairing after that clean sheet.

Moses Dyer will continue to lead the line, having netted a league-high tally of nine goals so far this season.

Derry City possible starting lineup:

Maher; R Boyce, Cann, Connolly, Holt, Todd; O’Reilly, Winchester, McMullan; Mullen, L Boyce

Galway United possible starting lineup:

Watts; Esua, Buckley, Slevin, Cunningham; Borden, Byrne, Hickey; Hurley, Dyer, McCarthy

We say: Derry City 2-1 Galway United

The two sides have experienced contrasting fortunes in recent weeks, but the hosts should have the quality to get back to winning ways on Friday after a brief break and climb back towards the top end of the division.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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