Sport

Derry City boss Kenny Shiels expects a Dalymount test

Airtricity League Premier Division: Bohemians v Derry City (tonight, 8pm, live on eirSport 1)

JUST as the Hughes Insurance Foyle Cup begins to wind down, the action heats up for Derry City this evening.

After the disappointment that boss Kenny Shiels decided against re-signing former Brandywell favourite Paddy McCourt, the Candystripes head to Dublin this evening.  

Shiels feels that tonight’s opponents Bohemians will be  nervous in front of the television cameras.

In their last few encounters against the Dubliners at Dalymount Park, City have struggled but Shiels feels his team, currently sitting third in the table, are shaping up nicely.  

“I always give the boys some beef on the opponent. I have always prepared that way, but we also speak about ourselves and what we can bring to the table,” stated the Derry gaffer.

“We can’t overlook the fact what are they thinking about us, because we are turning into a decent team.”

In some of those previous games, Gypsies’ striker Ismahil Akinade has been a handful, but Shiels believes that Keith Long’s side have other potential match-winners which his team will need to keep an eye on.

“Bohemians are a quality team, they beat Dundalk last year and they have good weapons within their team,” he added.

“I don’t want all the talk to be about a certain player that they have because then the players start to think just about him. They have quality players about their team and we have got to look at their whole team.”

Shiels confirmed that midfielder Harry Monaghan is likely to be back in the Derry squad for tonight, but Gareth McGlynn is still on the treatment table and Ryan McBride is out through suspension.

After Dundalk’s fantastic Champions League result on Wednesday night, there are only two other SSE Airtricity League Premier Division games scheduled for this weekend.

First up this evening sees Galway United host Wexford Youths at Eamonn Deacy Park, while tomorrow night bottom side Longford Town have home advantage over in-form Sligo Rovers.

In the First Division tonight, leaders Limerick travel to lowly Athlone Town, Cabinteely host Waterford United and Shelbourne entertain Drogheda United. Tomorrow evening, UCD visit Cobh Ramblers.