Double Preview: Derry City v Bohemians & Sligo Rovers (11th & 14th October 2024)
Derry City FC v Bohemian FC, League of Ireland Premier
Division Round 30, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 11th
October 2024, kick-off 7.45pm
Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC, League of Ireland
Premier Division Round 33, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Monday 14th
October 2024, kick-off 7.45pm
Derry City are once again Aviva bound after a brilliant 2-0 win away to Bohemians in the FAI Cup semi-final last Friday. Michael Duffy’s brace meant that Derry scored their seventh and eighth goals in the cup without reply this campaign. The Candystripes return to league action with a double header of games in hand, knowing that two wins would put them top of the pile. City host Bohemians for the second time in a week on Friday, before welcoming Sligo Rovers on Monday night in two huge games in the title race.
Last time out – Bohemians 0-2 Derry City:
Prior to Friday’s game, City had won five of their previous ten in Dalymount Park, with the most recent coming via a 95th minute Danny Mullen winner in June. Bohemians’ home form left a lot to be desired this season too – of their 17 home games in league and cup action they’ve won just five. In terms of league action, that home record is joint worst with Dundalk. Derry’s away form hasn’t been great either, grabbing six wins and seven draws from 18 away in league and cup football. This one was hard to predict going into and it was the home side who came out the stronger team for most of the first half. Bohemians’ midfielders and centre backs saw a lot of the ball in early action, frustrating Derry who kept their shape rather than breaking to press. Despite the early possession, they didn’t really threaten Brian Maher. Pat Hoban had the first chance in anger about seven minutes in when he shot straight at Kacper Chorazka following a pull-back from Michael Duffy. Some tidy work from Hoban in the box on the half hour mark saw the ball released out to Adam O’Reilly, who fizzed one narrowly over the crossbar from outside of the area. That gave the City crowd an injection of energy and saw the visitors grow into the game.
Ten minutes later and Derry had the breakthrough. Michael
Duffy felt a pull by fullback Paddy Kirk, who had replaced the stricken Liam
Smith just minutes earlier, and went to ground just outside the box. Much to
the dismay of the home crowd, the referee awarded the free to t. he away team. City’s
number seven stood over it and, in prime Duffy territory, he was always going
to go for goal. Placed to absolute perfection, his whipped effort evaded
everyone in the box and dipped over Chorazka before nestling in the top corner.
One of the best free kicks I’ve seen and the Bohs fans in the Jodi Stand had a
perfect view of it as well. It was a wonder-strike which saw Duffy go joint
with Mark Farren and Liam Coyle on eight goals for Derry City against Bohemians
- not bad company. The sold-out, near 500 deep Mono Stand was bouncing thanks
to the Shantallow man. Despite a penalty call when Alex Greive backed into Mark
Connolly in the City box late in the half, it was 1-0 to City at the break.
Five minutes after the restart and City had a massive
opportunity to double their advantage. Ronan Boyce’s header fell to the feet of
Pat Hoban, who knocked it back to Patrick McEleney in the centre circle. City’s
captain spotted the darting run of Paul McMullan in behind the Bohs defence and
played an inch-perfect ball through to him. The Scottish winger had the goal to
aim at when going 1v1 with Chorazka but slid the ball narrowly past the far
post. Whether it was a bobble in the pitch or just a misjudgement of the angle,
it was a chance which would have surely wrapped up the game for Derry. The home
side had the next best opportunity just before the hour mark. Dayle Rooney,
Bohs’ best player on the night, expertly turned past Paul McMullan before
jinking past Adam O’Reilly and firing narrowly wide from distance. A close call
for Derry, but Maher had it covered.
71 minutes into the game and City again won the ball back
through the energetic O’Reilly on the half way line. The ball made it’s way to
Michael Duffy, tight to the touchline, via McMullan and McEleney. Duffy rolled
back the years to power down the left flank and chop inside onto his stronger right
foot, taking three Bohs defenders out of the game. Duffy’s effort from range
took a bounce of the uneven Dalymount pitch just as it was about to reach
Chorazka, evading the Polish keeper before heading for the top corner. That man
again for City, nine goals now for Duffy who renders himself City’s highest
goal-scorer against Bohemians. The away support were sent into absolute
raptures as Duffy and McEleney wheeled towards Gareth McGlynn, on RTÉ punditry
duties, who got himself right into the middle of the celebrations.
Bohs pushed for a goal but never really tested the City
defence, who were in complete control of their box for the next 25 minutes. The
away support was phenomenal, the best away end I’ve seen in years. The Jodi
Stand had more than half-emptied well before full time, whilst the remaining
Bohs support let the players and staff know their feelings. The City support
were in full voice, and nearly had a hattrick to celebrate when Duffy fired
right at Chorazka in injury time. The scenes after the whistle were brilliant,
Higgins loved it. Wisdom loved it. Duffy and McEleney absolutely loved it. The
passion was there to see and it was a fantastic evening to be a Derry fan,
Phibsborough didn’t know what had hit it. Cancel your plans for the 10th
of November folks- we’ve a cup final to be going to.
Derry City:
Friday’s win means that Derry City haven’t conceded a
non-penalty goal in the FAI Cup since Rory Gaffney’s goal in Shamrock Rovers’
3-1 loss in the Brandywell in the 2022 quarter-final. It’s now eight goals and
four clean sheets in four cup games for City this season. With Drogheda United
meeting City in the final, the Candystripes will fancy their chances on that
big Aviva pitch. Michael Duffy was the deserving winning of the Man of the
Match award with two brilliant goals, whilst Patrick McEleney looked sharp and
back to his best following an injury hit campaign. His experience and passing
range in the midfield filled the void left by the injured Will Patching. Sadou
Diallo and Adam O’Reilly sitting behind McEleney gave City a real balance in
the centre of the park. Mark Connolly and Andre Wisdom, who had off-days
against Drogheda a week prior, where both solid at the back and quelled
everything Bohemians’ strikers put against them. Ronan Boyce was impressive
coming back in at right back, whilst Ben Doherty looked like he hadn’t missed
any time at all despite missing the last couple through injury. Paul McMullan’s
pace troubled the fullbacks - he was unlucky not to score just after half time.
Shane McEleney came on to make his first appearance since August, whilst
Davenport, Mullen and Whelan were introduced to get the win over the line. The
recent announcement of a one year contract extension for the aforementioned Danny
Mullen won’t have come as bad news to the City faithful either – the striker has
notched thirteen goals since joining in July 2023.
Despite a slow start, Derry were brilliant in their control
of the game after getting the first goal. Calm and precise in possession and
quick going forward, the Candystripes played really well. The energy and
intensity in the pressing, particularly in the second half, was pleasing after
the defeat in Drogheda. There are only five games and a cup final to go, that’s
six massive performances needed to win the double. It’ll be tough playing Bohs
on Friday, especially after playing them just a week prior. They’ll be out for
revenge and that familiarity will mean that Alan Reynolds will have his team
well versed on how to prevent a repeat of the semi-final. Similarly with the
Sligo Rovers game, City know that anything but two wins would be damaging to our
title hopes. Ruaidhrí Higgins can take comfort in knowing that Derry’s home
form is the best in the league, losing just twice in the league at home this
season. Michael Duffy will be wanting to extend his goals tally against Bohs
too, he’s scored thrice against the Gypsies this season and whipped an absolute
cracker into the top corner in this fixture two years ago. We can only hope
that that semi-final win, and the reaction of the fans and players afterwards,
will give the City players that motivation to go out and get as close to maximum
points as possible from the last month of the campaign.
Shamrock Rovers’ win over Shelbourne on Sunday, coupled with
Shels’ defeat to St. Pat’s, means that Duff’s men have now just one win in
eleven in the league. The momentum is with Rovers, who would finish on a
maximum of 61 points should they win their last three games. Derry City’s max
point tally should they win their last five is 65, whilst Shelbourne’s would be
63 (they’d need to beat Derry in the Brandywell to reach that, and vice versa
with Derry’s possible tally). That last game of the season is vital, it’s
shaping up like it’ll be a winner-takes-all fixture in the Brandywell. Three
wins and two draws from our last five would leave Derry on 61 points, a figure
which could be just about enough to clinch the title given our good goal difference.
St. Pat’s away is looking likely to be the one that could slip us up, they’re
the form team in Ireland at the moment. Three wins leading up to that game in
Inchicore would see Derry sitting on 59 points, meaning that even a draw
against Stephen Kenny’s men would be sufficient to take it to the final day. There
are a lot of uncertainties and possibilities at this stage of the season.
Anything less than staying unbeaten and winning at least three of the last five
could be curtains for Derry’s title hopes. Anything more should get us over the
line. Keep the faith.
Bohemians:
This Bohemians preview will be very similar to the last one,
not much has changed since last week really. Bohs sit eighth in the league, seven points
behind Waterford in seventh and four points ahead of Drogheda United in ninth –with
this their game in hand. They’ll hope to have guaranteed safety before facing
Waterford on the second last day of the season. Alan Reynolds’ side have won
just five of their seventeen home games in 2024, only two of which have come
since the 1-0 victory over Drogheda United on 19th April.
Bohemians have had more joy away from Dalymount though. They’ve won five, drawn
four and lost six of their fifteen away games in the league, placing them fifth
in the away form table. Three of their last five fixtures are away games too.
Dayle Rooney has comfortably been Bohs’ best player in 2024,
he was certainly their brightest spark on Friday. Signed from Drogheda United
prior to the season starting, Rooney has scored seven and assisted thirteen in
all competitions. He can operate off both wings and is a real threat going
forward. The returns of Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney, from MK Dons and
Motherwell respectively, are two huge coups for Alan Reynolds. Two quality
midfielders, they’ve contributed to eight goals since joining during the summer
window. Devoy dropped deep to pick up the ball from the defenders against
Derry, almost sliding Rooney in behind a couple of times in the semi-final. James
Clarke, a rumoured transfer target for Ruaidhrí Higgins in the window just
passed, is another versatile midfielder, whilst Adam McDonnell and Jordan
Flores have been mainstays in the Bohs team this year. Jevon Mills has
impressed on loan from Hull City at centre-back and Jake Carroll is another
impressive, experienced acquisition. Right back Liam Smith was brought off
injured in the first half against Derry, replaced by Paddy Kirk. Cian Byrne
looked comfortable on the ball at centre-back too. Carroll, winger Declan
McDaid, and former Shelbourne midfielder Brian McManus were unused subs on
Friday. They’re three players who could feature in the Brandywell given their
fresh legs. James Akintunde, the former Derry striker who has five league goals
in 2024, wasn’t in the squad to face his former club. He had a habit of coming
off the bench to score in a Derry City shirt, but hasn’t netted since May.
Bohemian’s form recently has been indifferent. They’ve won
four and lost four of their last ten in all competitions – the other two coming
in the form of 1-1 draws against Shelbourne. Wins over Shamrock Rovers and
Dundalk in the last five weeks were their first league victories since an away
win in Sligo in mid-May. After that impressive 3-0 victory, they lost six and drew
seven of the next fifteen league games. Bohemians have struggled for form this
season and have only won one of their last ten in the Brandywell. Michael
Duffy, scorer of both in the semi-final, sunk Bohs with an 85th
minute strike to take all three points in the last meeting between the two in
Derry back in May. There haven’t been more than two goals scored between Derry
City and Bohemians in the Brandywell since the FAI Cup quarter-final back in
September 2018. This could be a tight one.
Sligo Rovers:
Sligo Rovers started 2024 off on the front foot, finding
themselves second in the table after the first eight games. They then began to
slip down the table, winning just one of their next nine to find themselves
down in eighth place. Their mid season revival, beginning with a 1-0 win over
St Pat’s in early May, before winning eight and drawing two of their next
thirteen to creep back up the table, eventually saw them in 3rd after
29 games. Rovers are now sixth, but their tally of 47 points means they’re just
three points behind Derry City in third and seven points off top. European
qualification would mark a successful campaign for Mark Russell’s men, who have
already beaten all of the teams above them at least once this season. With four
games to go, Russell will likely have Monday night earmarked as an opportunity
to close the gap on the top, knowing that they have a game in hand on Shels and
Shamrock Rovers. Sligo don’t play on Friday, unlike Derry who of course host
Bohemians, and that extra few days could do them a favour. They did, however, lose 3-2 to Celtic in a friendly on Wednesday evening. Luis Palma's hattrick outdid goals from Kailin Barlow and Simon Power as Sligo led 2-1 for more than 70 minutes.
Rovers have scored
18 goals in 16 away games this term, the joint best in the division. In saying
that, Derry’s 31 goals in 15 home games is also a division-high statistic.
Don’t be shocked to see goals on Monday night, Sligo’s 33 goals conceded on the
road is the second worst in the division – behind only Drogheda United.
On the topic of Drogheda United, they handed Sligo their
heaviest defeat in decades when they put 7 past them without reply at the end
of August. Drogheda were bottom of the league at the time whilst Sligo had lost
just one of their previous six in the league. It was a genuinely shocking
result, which no one would have seen coming. Rovers went on to lose 4-0 away to
Shamrock Rovers three weeks later but have won two and drawn one of their last
four.
There are two players who you’d put as Sligo players of the
season. First is Ed McGinty, the 25 year old Oxford United loanee goalkeeper
who has kept twelve clean sheets this term. McGinty is one of the league’s
finest shot-stoppers, with lightning a quick reaction time. Next in the list is
Ellis Chapman, who has scored nine and assisted three from centre midfield in
the league. Signed from Cheltenham Town in the off-season, Chapman got off to
life in Sligo by scoring a hattrick against Derry City in a late-January
friendly. His mazy run and tidy finish in the 89th minute in the fixture
between these two at the start of July won Rovers the game. The 23 year old’s
penalty on the 62nd minute brought his side back on level terms
after City took the lead through Paul McMullan. Striker Wilson Waweru has
bagged seven in the league since signing from Galway United, but has been
injured since September. Former Derry City winger Will Fitzgerald always seem
to score against Derry, whilst Stephen Mallon, another former City winger, has
made six appearances since joining from Cliftonville. The losses of Max Mata to
Auckland FC and Fabrice Hartmann, whose loan from RB Leipzig was cut short so
that he could join German side Hallescher, left a hole the size of eight goals
and seven assists in the Sligo frontline.
Sligo Rovers have a tough run-in. They’re in the Brandywell
on Monday, before hosting Bohemians then facing Galway United in a west-coast
derby in the penultimate game. They welcome the league’s form team, St. Pat’s,
to The Showgrounds on the final matchday. Russell will know that fourth place
will be enough for Europe if Derry win the cup (and don’t manage to slip out of
the top three). Three points off fourth, with a game in hand on Galway, they’re
certainly going to give it a good go. Sligo have been something of a bogey team
for Derry City in the past couple of years. City haven’t won against Rovers
since July 2023, and it was an 84th minute Stefan Radosavljević
winner in the Showgrounds last September which all but ended City’s title hopes
last year. City themselves relied on a late equaliser earlier in the season to
rescue a point against Sligo back in May. Russell’s men haven’t won in Derry
since July 2020, drawing four of the next seven in the Brandywell. It’s the
three wins from those seven which Derry will be hoping for a repeat of on
Monday night.
Round-up:
It’s as simple as this, two wins for Derry City this weekend
will put them two points clear at the top of the Premier Division table with
three games to go. Even a win and a draw would put City top, albeit with the added
pressure of needing to win the last three to lift the league title. It’s just
one league win in seven for the Candystripes but, with the momentum of a huge
cup semi-final win last week, now could be the time for City’s tide to turn.
Both Bohemians and Sligo Rovers will want to spoil the Derry party as they
continue in their own respective battles, but Ruaidhrí Higgins knows that his
men are the closest a Derry side has been to the title at this stage in 18
years. Derry City finished second in 2006, level on points with eventual
winners Shelbourne who won on goal difference. Both City and Shels finished on
62 points, a points tally which could win the league this year. If it comes to
goal difference in 2024, City are likely to have the upper hand. It’s five
games in three weeks for Derry – five games which could see them champions for
this time this millennium.
Pól O'Hare - 9th October 2024
No comments:
Post a Comment