Plenty of worries for Hutton ahead of Rovers clash

Peter HuttonAs the season enters its final third, Derry City travel to Tallaght to take on Shamrock Rovers on Friday night.
The major news in League of Ireland circles this week was the departure of Trevor Croly from the Rovers hot seat and the appointment of Pat Fenlon.  Friday night marks the opening of the Fenlon era and the former City boss will be keen to impress the home support.
Having played with and against Pat Fenlon and then playing under the Dubliner, Peter Hutton knows all about the man he will face in the dugout .
Although ten points separate the two sides, City have a game in hand on their opponents and will feel that if they can take all three points from Tallaght that fourth place is a reasonable target for the rest of the season.  The Candystripes have been in free scoring form in the league in recent weeks, winning their last four games in a row and scoring 16 goals in the process.  In the same period City have only conceded once, and Gerard Doherty will feel he should have done much better with the consolation strike against UCD which slipped through his fingers in the 6-1 victory.
The record between the sides is remarkably closely matched, with each sides recording results of P3 W1 D1 L1 in the last 3 seasons.  So far this season we have seen a Rovers win and a draw, so the omens bode for a City win!
Speaking to the media this week, the manager gave his assessment of the challenge ahead.
“We are looking forward to it, with Pat Fenlon coming in it will give the Rovers’ player’s a wee bit impetus.  However going into it, the form couldn’t have been better, we have been on a good run and the players are enjoying their football”
The City boss did admit that he has plenty of worries ahead of Friday, with four high profile players struggling this week
“Patrick McEleney has a dead leg and Michael Duffy has a very tight hamstring.  Rory Patterson and Barry Molloy haven’t trained this week and will both be struggling to make Friday.

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