Friday evening, at 19:45, Derry City receives the visit of Ireland’s best team, Dundalk, in the 6th round of the championship. The match at Brandywell Stadium promises goals, as it did in previous years, when Dundalk visited the white-red band.
Dundalk has won 5 of the last 6 direct Derry matches and has not succumbed to this 2017 opponent, that is, 9 games! Last season, Dundalk won 4-0 away and 3-2 on their own, showing clearly what the top team is in this duel. We expect a similar performance of our guests, even though Derry started the new season well. In front of the best team in the country, however, the hosts could play a mostly defensive game.
The hosts come in with UC Dublin (3-0) and Waterford (3-2), and draw with Cork City (0-0) and Bohemians (1-1), two of Ireland’s top bands. The only stagionary failure was recorded in the Shamrock Rovers move, score 0-2, but the series of results so far places Derry in the first half. Dundalk, on the other hand, started somewhat hesitantly, with draws in the games with Sligo Rovers (1-1) and Finn Harps (1-1), modest teams.
But there were successes with UC Dublin (2-1) and Waterford (4-0) and the former champions’ game is growing. With 21 goals scored in the last 7 games played against Derry, the guests will have the initiative to play Friday night when they start certifying favorites.
Derry is on the 4th place at the moment (goal 7-5), but Dundalk is on the 3rd place (8-3 golaver) and does not conceive the wrong steps at the start of the season. As a matter of fact, Dundalk has the most valuable batch of the league and a defensive team to overcome, which greatly complicates the white-red mission. Visitors will attack by Hoban, Murray and Duffy, Vinny Perth’s best players.
PREDICTION: Dundalk to win @ 1,65
