Bohemians hoping to regain top spot

Bohemians travel to the Brandywell to face Derry City tonight knowing that a victory will put them back on top of the Premier Division table (kick-off 7.45pm).

Gypsies midfielders Glenn Cronin and Paul Keegan came through the EA Sports Cup final, despite both carrying knocks into the game, so should be fit to start.

However, Jason McGuinness (hamstring), Mark Rossiter (groin), Jason Byrne (back) and Gary Deegan (suspended) are not available for selection.

Bohs boss Pat Fenlon said: "It's going to be a difficult game. It always is in the Brandywell.

“We'll have to be at our best. The last time we were there we dropped the level of performance for 20 or 25 minutes.

“This time, we need to perform for the full 90 minutes.”

City must plan without Steven Gray (ankle ligaments), Kevin Deery (knee), Peter Hutton (groin), Ciaran Martyn (thigh) and Clive Delaney (back).

Derry boss Stephen Kenny said: “For the visit of Bohs, we have a few injuries at the wrong time, and we face a very tough series of games in the next ten days, but the players have shown a really good attitude in difficult circumstances.

“Undoubtedly, due to injuries, we will have to play a few lads out of position.

“Shane McEleney will probably come back in and he has done very well for a 17-year-old.

“Hopefully we will respond well to the challenges ahead and we hope to continue our good league form.”

Speaking about the amount of travel his side have to make over the coming weeks, Kenny added: “There have been a lot of references around the scheduling of this fixture, but if you look at our itinerary we will do twice as much travelling next week.

“Firstly to Belfast for the Linfield game and then we face a 16-hour round trip to Cork, arriving back at 7am on Wednesday with a game against Rovers on Friday night.

“This is the problem that Derry City and Cork face all the time. Dublin clubs play most of their games in the Dublin or Greater Dublin area, whereas we have to travel great distances on a regular basis.”