Eircom Leagues
2009-11-06 - Dundalk vs Derry City
A Sports Betting Pick by Stephen
Football: League Of Ireland
Friday 6th November KO 7.45pm
Dundalk (5th) Home Record W 7 D3 L7
Derry City (4th) Away Record W9 D2 L6
Its the last day of the season in the League Of Ireland with Dundalk facing Derry City. City still have a mathematical chance of getting third spot and a place in the Europa League for next season. For this to happen they must beat Dundalk and hope that Galway beat third place Cork City. However Derry City as a club face much bigger challenges in the weeks to come.
It has emerged this week that Derry are in severe financial trouble and on several occasions this season their players have not been paid and the club also owe Irish league side Dungannon Swifts a payment over the sale of former Swifts player Niall Mcginn to Celtic. Swifts have commenced wind up proceedings against Derry and the immediate future looks bleak for the once successful club.
On the pitch Derry have won their last 2 games, one against relegated Bray Wanderers and the other over struggling St Patricks Athletic. Before this Derry had lost 5 games in a row. The first half of the season had been much better for the Northern side as they were very much in title contention but have slipped away drastically in recent months.
Dundalk for their part have had a very succesful first season back in the top flight. Finishing in the top half of the table is certainly more than satisfying for Sean Connors side. They had started the season poorly with 3 defeats from their first 4. However they have had a much better second half of the season.
They have been especially solid at home where in the last 10 games they have won 6 drawn 2 and lost only twice and that was against the top two sides, Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers. Much of this form has been down to the form of Striker Chris Turner who has netted 11 times and the signing of Alex Williams from Ayr United in the summer has scored 7 times since joining the club. Dundalk
DUNDALK LAST 5
Cork City 2-1 Dundalk
Dundalk 2-4 Shamrock Rovers
Bray 1-1 Dundalk
Dundalk 2-2 Sligo Rovers
Dundalk 0-0 St Patricks Athletic
DERRY CITY LAST 5
Derry City 3-0 Bray Wanderers
St Patricks Athletic 0-2 Derry City
Derry City 1-2 Sligo Rovers
Galway United 3-1 Derry City
Derry City 0-1 Shamrock Rovers
HEAD TO HEAD
This Season
Derry City 0-1 Dundalk
Dundalk 1-0 Derry City
Derry City 3-0 Dundalk
VERDICT
Dundalk have been hard to beat at home and I feel they can finish off the season with a win. Their overall form over the last few months of the season has been better than that of Derry.
Derry's financial situation may also be a distraction for them.
Dundalk are available in some places at 2/1 to win this one, outstanding value which I will certainly be getting on.
The Pick :
Dundalk 2-1 Derry City
