Sport

Derry City without experienced trio for trip to Bohs

Cameron McJannet will miss Derry City's visit to Bohemians tonight through suspensions
Cameron McJannet will miss Derry City's visit to Bohemians tonight through suspensions Cameron McJannet will miss Derry City's visit to Bohemians tonight through suspensions

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Bohemian v Derry (tonight, 7.45pm)

Derry City will be without experienced trio Joe Thomson, Cameron McJannet and Danny Lafferty for tonight's encounter at fellow European hopefuls Bohemians.

Despite missing those first team regulars because of suspension, boss Ruaidhri Higgins believes he will still have a strong enough side to go to Dalymount Park and be able to claim all three points.

Fourth-placed Derry currently sit just a point above Keith Long's side, but the Gypsies have played two fewer games, so this evening's game could turn out to be crucial in the run-in.

"Unfortunately we have a few suspensions," said Higgins.

"Joe Thomson very harshly misses three games and both Danny Lafferty and Cameron McJannet have picked up five yellow cards over the course of the season, so they miss out as well.

"It's a blow to us because all three have had really good periods but we'll have a team strong enough on the pitch and experienced enough to go to Bohs intending to pick up all three points."

The Dubliners themselves go into the game having won four of their last five games and because of that, Higgins knows his side will have to be at their best if they harbour any hopes of getting a positive result.

"Bohs are a very good team, you have seen that in Europe this season and you have also seen that particularly against Shamrock Rovers at times this season, where they have went toe-to-toe with them," he explained.

"They are a very good vibrant side, who have some of the best young players in the country, who have massive futures ahead of them, so yeah it's going to be a very, very tough game but we have went there and won earlier in the season.

"They have improved since that game, but so have we and I think Dalymount Park has been a great ground for Derry over the last 10 odd years, so hopefully that continues."

The Limavady native knows that the Candystripes will have to be on their guard defensively as they come up against the league's topscorer in Georgie Kelly, however, he also has confidence that his attacking threat will cause the Dubliners problems.

"Look it's always worrying when the opposition have good players," he said.

"But I'm sure they'll have a few concerns about a few of our players as well, so we just need to focus on ourselves, continue to prepare as best as we can and go to Dalymount and have a right crack at it."