LOI preview: Derry City aim to profit from rivals woes

Leaders Derry City take on a Dundalk side growing in confidence tonight in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division, while Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic go in search of a much-needed win in Dublin derbies.

The Candystripes have been efficient in taking 10 points out of 12 so far in the league, with assistant manager Alan Reynolds acknowledging that there is plenty more to come from City over the next 32 games.

They welcome the Lilywhites who have bounced back from a slow start to register six points and seven goals over four days.

New signings such as Rayhaan Tulloch on loan from West Brom have found their feet quickly and it allows the visitors to travel north with a feeling they can silence what is likely to a partisan Brandywell crowd.

The bottom four of the Premier Division consists of four teams based in Dublin – two of which meet this evening.

The Hoops travel to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne - both teams will feel they should have more points on the board thus far.

The concerning factor for Stephen Bradley’s side is their uncharacteristic poor defending in the last week, shipping four goals at home to Cork City on Monday on the back of the loss to Derry.

With the gap to the leaders at seven points after four games, Bradley has been playing it cool in his assessments of the early-season standings.

But there will be a realisation that allowing Derry to grow a significant advantage would leave an uphill task to complete their four in a row.

Shels have four points from as many matches, ruing narrow losses to Pat’s and Dundalk and feeling the loss of some key forward players such as Sean Boyd and Matty Smith.

It sets up an important game in what will be a sold out Drumcondra venue.

The outlier in slow starts for Dublin