Dundalk v Derry City
Football: Republic of Ireland, Premier League
Friday 3rd July 2009 - Kickoff 19:45

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DUNDALK (Home Rec : W3 D0 L5)

Dundalk shocked Derry earlier in the season when they went to their Brandywell home and beat them 2-1. Boss Sean Connor is sure to go into this game confident as his side have won their last 2 games, including a fine 2-1 win away at title chasing Cork City. But before that his side had lost 3 games in a row and are only 5 points clear of bottom side Bray despite being in fifth place from the 10 teams.

Dundalk got off to a very poor start to the season losing 3 from their first 4 and became many people favourites to go down. But Connor's side have plenty of fight and they have managed to get some much needed wins to climb the table.

There has also been plenty of unrest in the Dundalk camp during the season. Two of the key players in George O Callaghan and Dave Rodgers have left the club, both under a cloud, but Dundalk's latest results have suggested that they have put that behind them.

Striker Chris Turner has been on form of late and his goal tally has gone up to 6 for the season. An interesting stat though is the fact that Dundalk's 3 home wins have come against 3 of the bottom 4 in Bray, Drogheda and Galway. They have lost their other 5 home games against higher placed teams.

DUNDALK LAST 5 GAMES (2-0-3)
Dundalk 0-1 St Pats
Dundalk 0-2 Sligo
Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Dundalk
Dundalk 3-0 Bray
Cork 1-2 Dundalk

DERRY CITY ( Away Rec : W5 D2 L1 )

Its been a terrific season for the northern club and they lie second in the table, just a point behind leaders Bohs.

Derry are currently on a great run of form which they have won 4 games in succession without conceding a goal. They have also beaten the 3 other top sides around them this season, Bohs, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City showing that Derry are in this title race for the long haul.

In the early part of the season Derry had been very inconsistent, dominating games but failing to put teams away and it cost them dearly. However they have certainly put that spell behind them and their defence has tightened considerably while their strikers Mark Farren and Sam Morrow have began to find the net more regularly. Derry have the best away form in the league and have managed 14 goals and conceded just 4 on the road and losing only once.

I think Dundalk will be a test as they have managed 2 wins in a row but Derry are the form team at the moment are certainly the much better side, and if Derry carry their form over from before the break Dundalk could be in for a tough night.

DERRY LAST 5 GAMES (4-1-0)
Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Galway 0-3 Derry
Derry 1-0 St Pats
Sligo 0-1 Derry
Derry 2-0 Bray

THE BETTING VERDICT

Derry have been very good to me on my picks this season and Im going for another DERRY WIN here. They are at EVENS and probably the best value bet of the weekend.

The Pick :

DUNDALK 0-1 DERRY

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take DERRY CITY to win