Preview: Derry City vs. Sligo Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Ruaidhri Higgins's side are currently third in the table, six points behind the leaders Shamrock Rovers, while Sligo occupy seven position, just four points ahead of ninth-placed Cork City.

Match preview

Derry have only won the League of Ireland Premier Division on two previous occasions, with their last success coming in 1997, but they were second in the table last season, 13 points behind champions Shamrock Rovers.

The Red and Whites currently sit third in the division, boasting a record of 11 wins, seven draws and six defeats from their 24 matches, which has seen them collect 40 points.

Derry, who are two points behind second-placed St Patrick's Athletic and six from the leaders Shamrock Rovers, will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Shelbourne last Friday.

Higgins's team lost 1-0 at Shamrock Rovers on June 26, meanwhile, with their last success proving to be a 2-0 home victory over Cork City on June 23.

Derry will be determined to return to winning ways in the league on Friday, but they will also have their eyes on their Europa Conference League first qualifying round clash against Faroe Islands outfit HB, with the first leg of the contest set to take place on July 13 ahead of the return fixture one week later.

Sligo Rovers, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 3-1 home success over Bohemians, which proved to be their first win in the league since beating Derry 1-0 at the end of May.

Rovers suffered a 2-1 loss to basement side University College Dublin on June 23 but recovered to beat Bohemians in impressive fashion, with the result moving them onto 26 points in the table.

John Russell's side have won seven, drawn five and lost 10 of their 22 league matches this season, and they currently occupy seventh position, two points ahead of eighth-placed Drogheda United and four clear of Cork City in ninth position.

The visitors have actually won the League of Ireland Premier Division on three occasions, with their last success coming in 2012, while they were fifth last season, 11 points behind St Patrick's Athletic in fourth.

Derry City League of Ireland Premier form:

D

L

D

W

L

D

Sligo Rovers League of Ireland Premier form:

W

L

L

D

L

W

Team News

Derry will be without the services of Adam O'Reilly, who was sent off in the latter stages of the contest with Shelbourne last time out.

As a result, Cian Kavanagh could come into the XI on Friday, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle of the clash on June 30.

Jordan McEneff is the team's leading goalscorer this season with six, and the 22-year-old will again feature in an attacking position, while Jamie McGonigle should lead the line.

Sligo, meanwhile, will be unable to call upon Kailin Barlow, with the midfielder being sent off in the team's 3-1 win over Bohemians last time out.

Barlow could be replaced by Stefan Radosavljevic, who found the back of the net off the bench against Bohemians, with the 22-year-old now in line for a starting role.

Max Mata has been in strong form this season, scoring 12 goals in all competitions, and he will again feature in the final third of the field for Sligo on Friday night.

Derry City possible starting lineup:

Maher; Dummigan, McEleney, McJannet; Boyce, Diallo, C Kavanagh, Doherty; McEneff, McGonigle, B Kavanagh

Sligo Rovers possible starting lineup:

McNicholas; Brannefalk, Mahon, Pijnaker, Lafferty; Fitzgerald, Bolger, Morahan, Livak; Mata, Radosavljevic

We say: Derry City 1-1 Sligo Rovers

Sligo will enter this match full of confidence following their win over Bohemians, but Derry are much better than they have shown of late, and we are therefore finding it difficult to back a home defeat here, ultimately settling on a low-scoring draw at the Brandywell Stadium.

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