Bitesize Prediction: Derry City vs Drogheda – 28/06/24

Competition: Irish Premier Division

Market: Derry City win

Odds: 4/11 @ BetUS

Two sides battling it out at opposite ends of the Premier Division table, Derry will welcome Drogheda to the Brandywell Stadium on Friday night.

Starting with the hosts, gaining a string of plaudits last season as they secured a silver medal finish among Ireland’s elite, Derry find themselves at the heart of another extended flurry. Battling it out at the top of the Premier Division table and marking their return from the fortnight interval sat just two points adrift of leapfrogging Shelbourne, RuaidhrI Higgins’ men should be smelling a golden opportunity on Friday night. Last seen on June 13th collecting an eye-catching 2-1 win away at Bohemians, the Candystripes have won all of their previous three top-flight appearances. Opening June with a stellar 3-0 romp against Waterford, Derry have also suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous 12 straight outings. With that purple patch stemming all the way back to April 19th, Higgins’ side should also be excited by their continued success on home soil. Including a 2-0 win against Galway earlier in the month, Friday’s hosts have collected 14 points from their last six Premier Division matchups at the Brandywell Stadium.

As for the visitors, spending the majority of last season battling it out at the foot of the Premier Division table, Drogheda have continued on a real nightmare rut this time around. Last seen heading into the fortnight interval with a routine 3-0 drumming at the hands of Galway, Kevin Doherty’s men sit rock-bottom of the table and pencilled in as a landslide relegation contender this year. Marking their return to top-flight duties on Friday night already sat eight points adrift of Premier Division safety, the Drogs will have an almighty challenge on their hands here. Signing off May with a routine 2-0 defeat at home against defending champions Shamrock Rovers, the former Shelbourne boss has seen his struggling squad collect just two points from any of their last seven top-flight battles. Likewise, losing all of their previous three showdowns away from Weavers Park by an aggregate score of 9-3, we are expecting a routine home victory this weekend.

Bet: Derry City 4/11 to beat Drogheda in Friday’s Irish Premier Division battle @ BetUS