Derry City have beaten Drogheda United just once in nine matches now – and have claimed just two wins in their last 12 SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division games – after Ryan Brennan's penalty sealed a smash-and-grab victory for the hosts at Sullivan & Lambe Park.
Tiernan Lynch’s side were dominant in most aspects of the game, but despite bringing Michael Duffy back into the fold, they had little to no cutting edge. The manager will surely come under serious pressure now with his side in midtable and going nowhere fast.
Dating back two years, Derry had contrived to beat Drogheda just once in eight meetings in all competitions. On the Windmill Road, Kevin Doherty’s team had earned two draws and a win in that time.
That meant if Lynch’s side were to meaningfully build on two draws in the previous seven days, a rare victory by the Boyne would be required. In pursuit of those three points, the Derry boss made five changes to the side that snatched a late draw against Galway United.
Duffy and Adam O’Reilly were among the returnees to the Derry line-up while there was a first City start for Kevin Dos Santos, the man who found their injury-time equaliser on Bank Holiday Monday.
Doherty put out a much-changed team against Shamrock Rovers that night, presumably happy enough with his lot of six points from six prior to that daunting trip to Tallaght Stadium. He reverted to a stronger, more-typically Drogheda line-up with captain Ryan Brennan, Shane Farrell, Warren Davis and Thomas Oluwa all restored.
At kick-off, only three points separated Derry from Bohemians, who lead the chasing pack in third. Given Derry – who are unbeaten in six - had won just twice in their previous 11 matches, the 'best of the rest’ appears as good as Lynch might hope for this term.
Keeping pace with those teams above them made three points against United all the more crucial. Just one point separated Drogheda from an improving Sligo in ninth however and the hosts found themselves in their own scramble for points.
The scene appeared set for a match in which nothing would come easy. Derry certainly had much the better of things in those early stages, and throughout the first half. In the absence of any accurate possession statistics, it was evident they weighed heavily – very heavily – in Derry’s favour.
As did the figures for chances created and attempts on goal but it remained scoreless at the break and Drogheda goalkeeper Flynn Talley hadn’t been overworked. He saw Adam O’Reilly’s shot fly narrowly wide of the post and Patrick McClean was denied when his header from a corner was cleared out from under the crossbar by Shane Farrell.
The first half was largely forgettable but the early parts of the second were not. Conor Barr forced Talley into a quickfire double save before Drogheda won their penalty at the other end.
Warren Davis left Carl Winchester in his wake and made his way into the penalty area, where he was fouled by Jamie Stott. Brennan took the spot kick and, despite Edward Beach diving the right side, his effort had way too much power behind it.
Brandon Kavangh almost added a second but Beach was behind it. After that, chances were at a premium for both teams – despite Derry’s need for a route back into the game. Lynch made a triple substitution on 70 minutes but to no ultimate effect.
One of those three changes – Henry Rylah – did almost find an equaliser. His piledriver from range crashed off the underside of the bar and into goalkeeper Talley’s arms.
Drogheda United: Flynn Talley; Edwin Agbaje, James Bolger, Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; Shane Farrell, Ryan Brennan (Jago Godden, 72); Warren Davis, Brandon Kavanagh (Andrew Quinn, 89), Thomas Oluwa; Mark Doyle (Jason Bucknor, 68).
Derry City: Edward Beach; Conor Barr (Cameron Dummigan, 85), Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean, Brandon Fleming; Carl Winchester, Adam O’Reilly (Josh Thomas 90+2); Kevin Dos Santos (Henry Rylah, 70), Darragh Markey (Barry Cotter 70), Michael Duffy (Afolabi Akinyemi, 70); James Clarke.
Referee: Arnold Hunter
