Derry City VS Finn Harps Match Prediction
2019-05-24
18:45:00
Derry City
VS
Finn Harps
Our Prediction Tip
Derry City will win this match.
2019-05-2418:45:00 Derry City will win this match.
Finn Harps returned to the Premier Division after a one-year absence this season but have already lost to Derry City to extend their poor record in this fixture. After Colm Deasy’s early dismissal, Adrian Delap opened the scoring for the visitors before Nathan Boyle’s equaliser. David Parkhouse scored twice late on however to earn Derry victory, despite Mikey Place’s stoppage-time penalty reducing the score to 3-2. It was Derry’s fourth consecutive win in this fixture and their 30th in the last 40 games between the two. Finn Harps have won just three times in that period, with seven draws.
Derry City need to get back to winning ways after their profligacy in front of goal saw their current winless streak stretch to five games on Tuesday night.
The fixture at home to Finn Harps is a perfect time to do that, however – they have already beaten the Harps once this season and now have 30 wins in the last 40 matches between the two.
In Derry, Finn Harps have won just one of the last 22 matches between these teams and their general away form has been poor too.
Since promotion back to the Premier Division, the Harps have scored just two goals on the road and are still searching for their first away win of the season.
Those goals have come in their last two away trips, and their form has markedly improved his month, but their first wins of the season were against fellow strugglers UCD and Waterford.
Derry need to start firing in front of goal if they are to challenge the teams above them again, but this match against Finn Harps is a perfect opportunity to do just that.
Derry City are odds-on favourites to beat Finn Harps, with Betway offering the best price of 8/15 on a home win.
Finn Harps’ away form is poor this season and they have only scored twice away from home – albeit in their last two away games. Derry are 5/4 to win to nil with Bet365 and Betway.
You can also bet against both teams to score at 4/6 with Bet365, while Derry are a best price of 4/9 to score first with Betway.
The hosts’ own attacking form has not been brilliant in recent weeks, however, and under 2.5 goals has been set at 8/11 with Betway.
Derry City have won 30 of their last 40 games against Finn Harps and, while they have been out of form of late, they can win again against a Harps’ team who have been poor away from home.
Barry McNamee dropped to the bench for the defeat against St Pat’s on Tuesday night but was introduced early in the second-half for David Parkhouse. Darren Cole was injured in that game and replaced by Joshua Kerr, who could start on Friday, but Gregory Sloggett could feature despite suffering a bloodied nose in a clash of heads during Tuesday’s match. Gerardo Bruna and Adrian Delap both came into the side for the last game, with Eoghan Stokes missing out and Jamie McDonagh dropping to the bench.
David Parkhouse – Scored twice when these sides last met to earn Derry a late win.
Gregory Sloggett – Battled on after a broken nose in mid-week and the captain will hope to be back to his best on Friday night.
Gerardo Bruna – Back in the side on Tuesday and, after Derry were profligate in front of goal, the midfielder will want to get back to goalscoring ways himself.
Derry City are without a win in their last five matches, drawing three in between defeats to Bohemians and, last Tuesday, against St Patrick’s Athletic. The 1-0 loss to St Pat’s, after Derry missed some good chances, followed a goalless draw with Sligo Rovers. In their last home game, also against St Pat’s, Barry McNamee scored an early goal in a 1-1 draw.
Tony McNamee might start after replacing Jacob Borg at half-time in Monday’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers. Keith Cowan was also a substitute for that game but could come in for Mark Coyle. After going off injured early in the win against Waterford, Michael Gallagher missed out last time – replaced by Colm Deasy.
Caolan McAleer – Scored twice in the victory against UCD that finally ended Finn Harps’ search for a league win this season.
Mikey Place – Two goals, including a penalty, helped the Harps to victory against Waterford as he moved to three for the season in total.
Sean Boyd – Netted in the draw at Sligo Rovers that ended Finn Harps’ losing streak away from home and also scored the winner against Waterford.
Finn Harps’ resurgent form was ended by a 3-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers on Monday night, but they did win their previous two games – their first victories of the season. Caolan McAleer scored twice, either side of Nathan Boyle’s goal, in a 3-0 home win against UCD, before Mikey Place’s double and a late Sean Boyd winner earned a 3-2 victory against Waterford. In their last away game, Keith Cowan scored a second-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
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