Derry City will be bidding to make it four League of Ireland Premier Division wins in a row when they welcome struggling Drogheda United to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night.
The home side are currently second in the league table, two points behind the leaders Shelbourne, while Drogheda are rock bottom, picking up just 16 points during a tough season to date.
Match preview
Derry will bring a three-game winning run into Friday's contest, having overcome Waterford, Galway United and Bohemians in June, with their last dropped points coming in a goalless draw with Dundalk on May 31.
The Red and Whites boast a record of 11 wins, eight draws and four defeats from their 23 league matches this season to collect 41 points, which has left them second in the table, only two points behind the leaders Shelbourne, although the team at the summit do have a game in hand.
Ruaidhri Higgins's side finished second in the League of Ireland Premier Division last season, seven points behind the champions Shamrock Rovers.
Derry are again in a title race at this stage of proceedings, and they have previously won the League of Ireland Premier Division on two occasions, firstly in 1988-89 and then again in 1996-97.
The Red and Whites are unbeaten since a 1-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers on May 20, while they have not lost to a team other than the Hoops since the end of March.
© Imago
Drogheda, meanwhile, are rock bottom of the division, picking up only 16 points from their 21 matches courtesy of a record of three wins, seven draws and 11 defeats.
The Claret and Blues are three points behind ninth-placed Dundalk and eight from eighth-placed Bohemians, who have two games in hand, which is an indication of their struggles this term.
Kevin Doherty's side suffered a 3-0 defeat to Galway United in their last match on June 13, and they are currently on a seven-game winless run in the league, with five of those games bringing defeats.
Drogheda have not been victorious since a 2-1 success over Dundalk at the start of May, while they have the worst away record in the League of Ireland Premier Division this term, picking up just three points from 11 games.
These two sides played out a 2-2 draw in their last meeting in April, but Drogheda have only managed to overcome Derry once in the last 10 league contests between the teams.
Team News
Derry will be without the services of three first-team players on Friday, with Patrick McEleney, Jordan McEneff and Colm Whelan unavailable for selection.
Head coach Higgins is expected to name the same team that took to the field for the first whistle against Bohemians last time out, meaning that Danny Mullen is set to continue on the bench despite netting the winner in that particular contest.
Patrick Hoban has scored 11 league goals during the current season, meanwhile, and the 32-year-old will lead the line for the home side in this match.
As for Drogheda, Gary Deegan and Aaron McNally will miss out due to muscular problems, while Oisin Gallagher is suspended.
There is also doubt over the involvement of Zishim Bawa, who had to be substituted in the first half of the clash with Galway United last time out.
As a result, there should be a return at centre-forward for Frantz Pierrot; the 25-year-old is the club's joint-leading goalscorer in all competitions this season with five alongside Evan Weir.
Derry City possible starting lineup:
Maher; Dummigan, Connolly, McEleney, Doherty; O'Reilly, Diallo; McMullan, Patching, Duffy; Hoban
Drogheda United possible starting lineup:
Wogan; Heeney, Quinn, Keaney, Kane; Brennan, O'Brien; Foley, Markey, Weir; Pierrot
We say: Derry City 2-0 Drogheda United
Drogheda have held Derry to draws in two of the last three league meetings between the two sides, but we are struggling to look past the hosts here. Drogheda have struggled on their travels this term, while Derry have the division's best home record, and we are expecting a routine two-goal success for the Red and Whites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
