FAI Cup: Derry City confident ahead of replay against Drogheda

Derry City travel to United Park to take on Drogheda United in their FAI Cup second round replay tonight (kick off).

City had to rely on an Aaron McEneff penalty (pictured) to earn a draw against their First Division opponents at Brandywell on Friday night last.

In the last two games at the Brandywell, Derry City have had 37 shots at goal, but scored only three times, and that is a source of great frustration for manager Kenny Shiels. Against Finn Harps and Drogheda United, the Candy Stripes passed up chance after chance to score, but a combination of poor finishing and great goalkeeping has denied them time and again.

Only goalkeeper McGuinness and the Drogheda crossbar stood in the way of Derry and comfortable progression and Shiels is hoping his players find their shooting boost for tonight’s.

“If we’re looking for something positive, we’re still in the cup,” he said.

“We were quite dominant. We can’t overlook the fact that Drogheda got in amongst us and defended well and protected their goal, but despite them defending well, we created six or seven chances which we didn’t convert. We hot the bar twice, we hit the post, we had two penalty kicks. It’s just having that composure in front of goal, which wasn’t there.

“But we’ll dust ourselves down and prepare for Tuesday and hopefully we can go to Drogheda and come away with a victory.”

Captain Ryan McBride (groin) and leading goalscorer Rory Patterson (knee) will undergo late fitness tests ahead of tonight’s clash having picked up injuries in Friday night’s game.

In tonight’s other replay, Ulster Senior League outfit Letterkenny Rovers host Athlone Town at Leckview Park in Letterkenny following their 0-0 away draw at the weekend.

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