Derry City hoping to keep title race alive against Shamrock Rovers

When any team, in any sport, begins to dominate it's natural for the neutral to begin to side against them.

Victory for Shamrock Rovers this evening, against second place Derry City, would leave them seven points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division with just 18 points still up for grabs.

It would, in reality, see them with one hand firmly gripping the League of Ireland trophy and unbackable favourites for their fourth title in a row.

It would be only the second time the club has managed the feat and it means that this squad has a chance to write itself into the history books of the League of Ireland.

They did wobble in July and August.

European participation, and their preparations for that, saw them win just two of six league games either side of being knocked out of both the Champions League and the Conference League at the first time of asking.

Dundalk also ended the Tallaght club's hopes of a domestic double when they sunk them in the FAI Cup but Rovers look to be back on form with the Lilywhites - as well as their biggest local rivals Bohemians - seen off before the international break.

Manager Stephen Bradley will be without Jack Byrne while Johnny Kenny returned from Republic of Ireland under-21 duty with a knock and he's not fully fit.

They head to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium having won the last meeting between the sides there in May, with Richie Towell and Jack Byrne finding the back of the net in a 2-0 triumph.

With St Patrick's Athletic to come on the second last day at Richmond Park, they'll want to wrap up top spot as quickly as possible.

Last season Derry slipped up ahead of a trip to face Shamrock Rovers. They were first held by Shelbourne and then failed to overcome Sligo Rovers on