Bohemians v Wexford Youths, 7.45pm
After a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Dublin rival St Patrick’s Athletic last time out, Bohemians will be hoping to get back to winning ways against newly promoted Wexford Youths.
Wexford are still in search of their first point of the campaign and Bohs manager Keith Long wants to ensure they don’t get it at Dalymount Park but insists that his side will have to tighten up their defence.
“We’ve conceded five goals in three games,” he told the club’s website. “We’ve got to tighten up both individually and collectively. We have to play to our strengths, become difficult to play against again and stop giving away soft goals.”
“(Wexford) are a good side and have been playing together under Shane Keegan for a few years now. They’re improving and only lost by the odd goal against Dundalk on Monday.”
Long has injury concerns and is waiting on defenders Anto Murphy (virus) and Lorcan Fitzgerald (calf). Stephen Best and Eoin Wearen are also doubts with a virus, while Ismahil Akinade is suspended.
The Youths come into the game on the back of defeats to Shamrock Rovers and champions Dundalk but showed positive signs in both games and manager Shane Keegan believes that it’s only a matter of time before results turn.
"They were two of the best performances the lads have ever given me,” he said. “We went to Tallaght and forced the Rovers keeper into a man of the match performance.
“Then after a short turnaround we went around and gave Dundalk a serious run for their money with another excellent performance. I'm very proud of the performances the lads are giving me at the minute and I'm sure they'll get the bit of luck their application deserves in the coming games."
Youths are again without medium-term injured trio Shane Dunne, Peter Higgins and Aidan Keenan. Ryan Delaney came off injured against Dundalk on Monday and will undergo a late fitness test.
Derry City v Galway United, 7.45pm
After victories over Cork City and Bray Wanderers, Derry City are looking to make it three wins in seven days as they welcome Galway to the Brandywell.
It’s been a hectic week for the Candystripes, but they’ve acquitted themselves well after an opening day defeat to Finn Harps and manager Kenny Shiels wants his side to show the same work ethic they had on display during the week.
“If we can work at a high volume then we have got a chance, but it’s going to be a tight game,” he said.
“The boys have got good energy at the moment and we are trying to sustain that, we don’t want anyone to work harder than us and if we can match that, then we’ll see what happens.”
Galway come into the game sitting in third place in the table after a 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers.
Manager Tommy Dunne insisted that his side should have won that game. “We’re extremely disappointed,” he said in the aftermath of that game. “We weren’t focused at the start in certain areas and we gave away a soft goal."
Armin Aganovic (knee) and Marc Ludden (foot) are both ruled out for the visit of Sligo, although Ludden may return for Monday’s EA Sports Cup tie against Mayo League at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Dundalk v Cork City, 7.45pm
Three games into the season and the Premier Division table has a familiar look to it with Dundalk sitting on the top.
A late victory over Wexford Youths saw Stephen Kenny’s men maintain their 100% start to the season and defender Patrick McEleney already believes his side are building momentum.
“Getting the late goal was fantastic and I think we all enjoyed the late winner,” he said. “It wasn’t our best performance but sometimes you have to win like that and we are pleased with any win that we can get.
“We have had a good start to the season with the three wins and we want to keep that going against Cork on Friday. We know an early win like that can help us but it’s going to be a difficult game and hopefully we can get the three points.”
Dundalk have a clean bill of health with no suspension issues and captain Stephen O’Donnell is available for selection once again having sat out Monday’s victory due to illness.
Cork bounced back from last week’s defeat away to Derry by thrashing Longford Town 6-0 at Turner’s Cross on Monday night.
City have already notched up a win over Dundalk this year after they came out on top in the season opening President’s Cup and manager John Caulfield wants his side to take heart from that win.
“The positive is that we beat them in the President’s Cup final; obviously their manager said that they didn’t play well that day and that they will be waiting for us in the league, so we know what to expect and we have to perform well.
“They are the team to beat. We have pushed them very close for two seasons and obviously we are trying to see can we do that little bit extra.”
Greg Bolger returns from suspension, but John Kavanagh and Garry Buckley are still ruled out. Caulfield also has concerns over the availability Gavan Holohan and Stephen Dooley, who picked up knocks in the Derry game.
Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick’s Athletic, 8pm
Level on points with Dundalk and with a 100% record so far, Shamrock Rovers have yet to concede a goal this season.
The Hoops welcome Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic to Tallaght for a game that’s been dubbed the LUAS Derby and midfielder Gary McCabe is targeting all three points.
“We have to make it four from four,” he said. “We go into Friday full of confidence and we have to get the win. These wins keep you around the top of the table, which is good. We have to keep pushing on.”
In team news, Killian Brennan and Dean Clarke have joined the injury list with Brennan injured in Monday’s game in Ballybofey.
The pair join Stephen McPhail and Luke Byrne who have not featured so far this season.
St Pat's manager Liam Buckley is again without the injured trio of Lee Desmond, Jamie McGrath and Jack Bayly as well as goalkeeper Conor O’Malley, while defender Sean Hoare is facing a fitness test.
The Saints were mightily impressive in their 3-0 victory over Bohemians on Monday evening and Buckley will be hoping that his side can bring that form into the match at Tallaght.
