Keely unlikely to shuffle team

DERRY CITY boss Dermot Keely is likely to keep the same starting line-up which grabbed a vital point in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park when Derry host Premier Division bottom club UCD at the Brandywell tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

"We are still making defensive errors but we are getting there.

"We showed a lot of character when coming from 2-0 down after half an hour to equalise by half-time with goals from Gary Beckett and Michael Holt. It was important and encouraging that the heads didn't go down," said Keely.

Beckett and Holt are again likely to be the focus of attack although veteran striker Liam Coyle could again come into the reckoning.

Keely knows victory over UCD and then another three points from Thursday week's clash with Drogheda United also at the Brandywell would go a long way to easing the club's relegation worries.

UCD will be in a confident mood after only their third victory of the season when they deservedly hammered Waterford United 3-0 at Belfield Park on Tuesday.

New boss Pete Mahon has no injury problems and has again the services of Northern Ireland U21 international defender Hugh Davey.

Newry-born Davey missed the Waterford game because of a one-match suspension after being sent off in College's 2-0 defeat by Shamrock Rovers at Belfield the previous week.

"There was a great turn- around in the second half against Waterford when we scored three excellent goals through Pat Sullivan, Mick O'Donnell and Mark Leech.

"Earlier there had been something of a fear factor with the young players afraid to make mistakes," said Mahon.

"This game is a real-six pointer as a win would leave us just two points behind Derry although they would still have matches in hand. That is why we must pick up where we left off against Waterford," added Mahon.