LOI preview: Derry face defensively-depleted Hoops

The first league meeting of title rivals Shamrock Rovers and Derry City was not expected to draw this much intrigue given it is just the third match week of the new League of Ireland season.

A winless start by Shamrock Rovers, albeit they were within touching distance of three points on both occasions, a crisis of absent defenders and a Derry City injury hoodoo are just some of the storylines around a fixture which will attract over 7,000 fans to Tallaght Stadium.

The Hoops are aiming to make it four league titles in a row this year, with Derry expected to be the leading challenger.

Often a slow starter performance-wise, Stephen Bradley’s side gradually get a stranglehold on the league and brush aside each rival.

It would be significant if Derry could go to Tallaght tonight and open up a five-point gap, though given their opposition are closing on two years unbeaten in the league at home, that is a major ask.

Red cards to three central defenders in the first two weeks leaves Stephen Bradley short on options and possibly needing a tactical reshuffle as Vinny Perth pointed out on this week’s RTÉ Soccer Podcast.

The Hoops have not played in Tallaght yet this season due to work on the new fourth stand so a return to home comforts will be welcome.

For Derry, injuries to the likes of key men like Michael Duffy and Cameron Dummingan has left them down on options.

Ruaidhri Higgins watched his players do enough to beat a Cork City side struggling to adapt to the top flight, while the previous week they came close to a much more eye-catching scalp of St Patrick’s Athletic before conceding in the final moments.

All in all, it sets up a clash between the likely top two in this year's league that will produce many talking points.

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