Get on it! Derry City 7/1 to win tonight's top-of-the-table clash with Dundalk
Derry City are being quoted at 7/1 to win tonight’s top-of-the-table clash against Dundalk.
The League of Ireland Premier Division’s top two teams meet at Oriel Park.
Only goal difference separates the two sides.
However, bookmakers are making Dundalk strong favourites to win the game at a price of 2/5.
Derry boss Kenny Shiels, however, is confident his team can secure a victory.
Shiels said he and his players are driven to succeed this season due to the criticism aimed at Derry City earlier in the season.
City, who have won their last four games, received widespread criticism following the opening day defeat to Finn Harps but Shiels insists he used that experience to fuel him to succeed.
“I’ve been written off a lot of times in my life and I see that as motivation,” he revealed.
“I told the players that we’ve been written off. There has been stuff in the paper but it can all be used as motivation.
“We have to formulate some motivation to go into every game and for this one against Dundalk, the motivation is that we’re playing the champions and the fact that we are joint top. It’s a game live on television also.”
Anticipation may be building for tomorrow night’s game, but Shiels has lamented what he feels has been an unfavourable fixture schedule ahead of the game.
“If you include the journey travelling home, Dundalk have had three days more down time than us to prepare for this game,” he said.
“They have had the advantage of three extra days rest and game preparation. People don’t understand the advantage that carries.
“They have had three days extra to prepare for the game then we’ve been hit with the handicap of having three games in six days next week. That’s really hard to take in at this stage of the season. It’s not good practice but we just have to draw on our organisational skills to get these games in and played.”
Tonight’s game is live on RTE.
Meanwhile, Finn Harps game against St Patrick's Athletic in Ballybofey tonight has been cancelled because of a water-logged pitch.