Derry City and Bohemians clash tonight in another televised League of Ireland match on RTÉ, with both sides knowing they have to turn around alarming dips in form.
City were left reeling after a very poor double-fixture, including a disastrous display against St Patrick's Athletic that saw four goals shipped and injury problems mount.
Talisman Patrick McEleney is set for a spell on the sidelines. As expected, Colm Whelan is out long term and another Republic of Ireland underage international, Ollie O’Neill, will return to parent club Fulham after this game.
Michael Duffy and Cameron Dummigan also may miss out. With just one point from the last three matches, it’s vital for Derry to come away with maximum points here given Shamrock Rovers face UCD tonight and could extend what is already a four-point advantage.
Bohs have also struggled to put points on the board. They’ve accumulated just 12 from a possible 30 and now have teams closing in on them in fourth place when it seemed they were a long way to securing such a position earlier in the season.
The games between the teams have resulted in 1-0 away victories so far in the year.
It has been a difficult year for UCD as they prepare to take on Shamrock Rovers.
Seven defeats on the spin and the resurgence of teams above them have left them all but relegated even just after the halfway stage.
Anything other than a comfortable home win for the Hoops would come as a ginormous shock – and chances are they can move further clear of the chasing pack tonight.
St Patrick’s Athletic have powered into a tie for second place to begin hopes of a title challenge in part two of the season.
Six wins from seven games under Jon Daly has been very taking for Saints fans, with Richmond Park bouncing during the demolition of Derry last Monday.
Drogheda United have slipped into the play-off position despite good performances throughout the season, including that memorable win in Tallaght.
It’s anyone’s guess which side will fill the play-off spot after 38 games.
Cork City moved out of that spot last week after a fourth win for the management team of Liam Buckley and Richie Holland.
Unsurprisingly they will continue in charge for the remainder of the year. Cork’s former fierce rival Dundalk visit tonight and know a loss could drag them closer to ninth than the European spots.
The Lilywhites have been up and down throughout the year with an inexperienced squad. Patrick Hoban delivered last Monday and could become their outright all-time top scorer here. It would be an ideal finish before the upcoming midweek break.
The final fixture gives Shelbourne the chance to continue their superb season so far.
A Sligo Rovers side in deep crisis travel to Dublin, already beaten twice by Damien Duff’s men, and with just one goal in their last six matches.
John Russell’s first complete season in charge has not gone to plan. They could slip into ninth spot tonight if their woes continue.
Derry City v Bohemians, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm, live on RTÉ2
There's been some soul-searching in Derry this week after their recent woes.
Ruaidhri Higgins has attempted to rally his charges in a bid to stay in second place tonight.
He said: "We have a break after Friday and we want to go into that on a high. We've been below par for the past 10 days or so but we’ve had the necessary conversations as a group.
"We need to be fully motivated and sometimes in games you just have to dig in. As long as you come off the pitch knowing you’ve given everything, then we can work with that.
"I’m confident we will come out fighting and we all know that we need a fully committed performance this weekend."
Michael Duffy and Cameron Dummigan are doubtful but there is no clear outlook for Patrick McEleney just yet.
Higgins added: "Patrick won't make Friday night but we won’t make a call on the other two until nearer kick-off," he said.
"We have a very difficult game coming up, but whatever happens I have no doubt we will put out a team capable of winning."
Declan Devine has not been overly critical of his players - only to ask them to learn from conceding within seconds of scoring in Cork on Monday.
He has backed his players to recover from that recent setback.
Fourth spot would have looked good for Bohs if offered at the start of the season, yet there is some disappointment now given how well they began the year.
The memories of Cork are staying with Devine.
"It was a lesson not just for me, but for the whole group," he said.
"I think we all understand that it wasn't acceptable to concede seconds after we scored a goal. It is something that I would like to imagine will never happen again. It’s something that can never happen again.
"We have got to learn that it was crazy – absolutely insane – to let that happen. But I will say this about this group again – that I believe they are giving everything and I believe that they will learn from it.
"We can’t do anything else about it now but learn from it. We certainly don’t want that to ever happen again.
"It is a lesson as to how cruel the game can be. If you’re not switched on for every second of every game, then you get punished and that’s that’s what happened. We were absolutely punished.
"Cork had two shots on target and they score two goals. That’s how this league goes. You’ve got to make sure that you are fully concentrated in your set-up, and that your defensive set-up is right for the whole game."
As he faces his hometown club, Devine is aware the teams have a similar outlook.
"Derry will be coming into this game hurting as well after Monday. They'll be expecting a performance and we’re going up there expecting a performance as well.
"I think you’ll find two teams trying to go and win the game. I don’t think it’s going to be like certain games that we’ve seen recently where teams are sitting back and holding out for a clean sheet."
Dylan Connolly (hip) and Johnny Afolabi (ankle) come back into contention but Dean Williams (ankle) remains out.
Shamrock Rovers v UCD, Tallaght Stadium, 8pm
Shamrock Rovers had a very comfortable night in the office against a depleted and struggling Sligo Rovers side last Monday.
Nevertheless, it rounded off an excellent weekend as they left two defeats behind them with impressive wins.
Stephen Bradley targeted nine points on the back of the Cork and Drogheda shocks. It's expected they will complete the set in south Dublin tonight.
He added: "We said last week that the aim was nine points going into the break and we're still on course to do that.
"We know that we always get stronger after the break but it’s important that we finish really strong now and do everything possible to get another three points on the board.
"I think UCD will enjoy coming to Tallaght with the big pitch. They have young players that play with no fear. We saw that out in UCD [in May], that they have a good crop of young players.
"Tallaght is the perfect pitch so I think they’ll come with no fear and have a right go at us."
Alan Mannus is set to return in July with Leon Pohls continuing in goals.
Dylan Watts, Liam Burt and Simon Power are all returrning to fitness. Ronan Finn is back from suspension.
Drogheda United v St Patrick's Athletic, Weavers Park, 7.45pm
It's unlikely Jon Daly is thinking management is easy despite six wins in seven games in the hotseat.
He could hardly be blamed however on the back on Monday's near-perfect night in Inchicore.
The Saints were dominant and put Derry to the sword as they showed the ideal form ahead of a European campaign and the remainder of the league and FAI Cup to come.
The Dublin men have scored 18 goals in the seven games too with their good form.
Daly is warning against complacency for his side: "The lads are confident going into the game, we're well away of the threats that Drogheda United pose. They are a decent side and they've got some very good players.
"We'll give them the full respect that they deserve while also concentrating on what we're looking to do in the game. Weavers Park is a difficult venue to go to, and although we have had good results against them recently, that counts for nothing going into this game.
"It's important that we turn up on Friday and play to the levels that we have done."
Drogheda lost 1-0 to Cork last Friday and 3-2 to Shelbourne in their double-round last weekend - matches in which performance levels were not particularly low but they came away with nothing.
The battling display in Tolka Park was little consolation for Kevin Doherty as they look to get vital points on the board.
The Saints have dominated the fixture so far this year with 3-0 and 3-1 wins.
Joe Redmond (hamstring), Tom Grivosti (cruciate ligaement), Axel Sjoberg (hamstring) and Jake Mulraney (suspended) will all miss the game.
Cork City v Dundalk, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
Cork City fans could only dream of moments like last Monday's matchwinner against Bohemians when these teams last met.
Patrick Hoban scored a 97th-minute goal to break already bruised Cork hearts as their season went from bad to worse.
Liam Buckley and Richie Holland have completely turned it around in the space of a month with four wins and a new sense of optimism at the club.
That Hoban goal also felt like it could see Dundalk turn a corner and allow them to look forward to better display in the coming weeks.
It didn't work out that way and needed Hoban's hat-trick against UCD to allow fans to smile again.
The striker is writing himself in the history books with 142 goals to his name in the white and black shirt.
They'll be counting on him in a fixture he has enjoyed over the years, reaching double figures alone against the Rebels.
Experienced Dundalk defender Andy Boyle is expecting a tough night for his side but one they can emerge with a victory from.
"They've been on a great run and, as we know from the games we had against them through the years, Turner’s Cross is always a tough place to go and they’ll have a big crowd behind them," said Boyle.
"The rivalry isn’t what it was four or five years ago but it’s still a big game and the atmosphere should be similar to the old days when we were fighting it out every season.
"They have some good players and they’ve got a bit more of an identity now so you have to give them a bit of respect, but we’ve got our own threats and it’s about how we go and exploit their weaknesses.
"We’re coming off the back of a good win against UCD on Monday and we don’t want to be going into the mid-season break on a downer so we’re fully focused on coming home with three points."
Robbie McCourt is doubtful after missing the last two games with a groin injury while Alfie Lewis will also be assessed after sitting out the win over UCD with an ankle injury. Wasiri Williams returns after missing Monday's game due to personal reasons. Robbie Benson and John Mountney remain sidelined with long-term injuries.
Shelbourne v Sligo Rovers, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
It was an uncharacteristic win for Shelbourne last Monday against Drogheda with goals flying in at both ends.
Sean Boyd's goal was a welcome boost as he looks set to cause much more problems in attack for the second half of the season after his long-term injury.
Shels are primed for a European challenge based on their campaign so far and they'll fancy turning over Sligo again tonight.
Duff is pleased with where his side are: "Form wise yes we're seeing improvements, we’re into the second half of the season now and when I think back and how many times did I say last year where 'oh we played well and didn’t pick up the points’, for a while it was was a lot of hard luck stories with us.
"We’re maturing, yes we are performing well but know we can perform better. But we’re picking up points. That is paramount. Monday is the perfect example, the first half isn’t overly good, the second half, we do enough to get the job done."
Duff is wary of a Bit O' Red backlash despite their dreadful run of form and deficiencies in defence and attack recently.
"They have some of the most coveted players in the league. Max Mata is still one of the top scorers. They have boys with experience who know how to get results in this league, who've been around the block, Greg Bolger is back now. We’re not fooled; they have quality and great coaches and a brilliant manager in John Russell, despite the results, they will turn it around, some team will get that backlash from them, they have quality all over the pitch. We have to ensure that we’re not that team and that it doesn’t happen at Tolka."
Paddy Barrett and Kian Leavy are still absent with injury, Brian McManus is out for at least two months following knee surgery.
Duff highlighted Nando Pijnaker, Fabrice Hartmann, Greg Bolger and Mata as dangermen for the visitors but just one of those could be available in their frontman Mata.
Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne, Karl O' Sullivan, Gary Boylan, Eanna Clancy, Hartmann, James Finnerty and Conor Walsh are definitely ruled out.
Bolger, Pijnaker and John Mahon are doubtful.
It has been the story of the year for Russell as he has been forced to constantly change his side.
Now under pressure given it's just one win from six games, he has told his players to take inspiration from an insipid display against Shels last time out.
'"It’s been a tough run of results lately. We’ve suffered with player injuries which has no doubt impacted us.
"We are fully aware of the situation we’re in and everyone is working extremely hard to turn the corner.
"We want to go into the mid-season break on the back of a positive result. The last time we played Shelbourne, we never turned up. Friday night gives us an opportunity to put that right."
Watch Derry City v Bohemians in the League of Ireland on Friday from 7.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on all matches on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app
