SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Derry City -v- Waterford FC
Friday, 2nd July 2021
Kick-Off: 7:45pm
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Waterford FC make the first of two long away trips in a week when the Blues face Derry City in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night.
The Blues come into Friday’s game on the back of a strong performance against league leaders St. Patrick’s Athletic last weekend, where a Shane Griffin goal earned the Blues a point.
Friday’s hosts Derry City come into the game on the back of a 2-1 defeat against Dundalk as they sit 7th in the league table.
The sides last met back in May when a single goal gave the visitors the points in the RSC. The last meeting in the Brandywell came in April when the Blues ran out 2-1 winners. Of the side’s last 14 fixtures, the Blues have won on six occasions with two draws across the same fixtures.
Managers View: Speaking ahead of Friday’s match against Derry City, manager Marc Bircham said:
“Of course we were happy to get a point against the league leaders last weekend, but I think we could have grabbed a winner with some of our chances. The boys all worked hard, I can’t fault them on that.
“Straight away from the final whistle on Friday night our focus turned to this week’s game against Derry. We had the boys back in on Saturday and the same on Sunday. We’re getting there…our fitness is improving and our play is getting better.
“We have two tough games on the trot at the other end of the country now. Derry are going to be a tough side, they lost 2-1 last week and are going to want to bounce back from that. We know what we are capable of and that we can play good football. We’ll go up there with a game plan and we’ll do what we can to get three points on the board.
Adam (O’Reilly) and Jamie (Mascoll) have gone after their loans finished and they’ll be missed. I want to thank them for their contribution since I’ve come in and wish them well. We’ve a couple of knocks too but we’re working to bring new players to the club so hopefully we’ll have news very soon.”
Team News: Adam O’Reilly and Jamie Mascoll’s loan deals have ended while Katlego Mashigo, Daryl Murphy and Oscar Brennan miss out.
