DERRY CITY: Shiels looks to freshen things up for Bohemians tie

Kenny Shiels has promised to freshen up his starting XI for tonight's crucial Irish Daily Mail third round tie against Bohemians in Dalymount Park. Kick-off: 7.45 p.m.
Derry City manager Kenny Shiels. ( Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile)Derry City manager Kenny Shiels. ( Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile)
Derry City manager Kenny Shiels. ( Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile)

And that could be good news for new Spanish defender, Cristian Castells, whom the City manger confirmed was in contention to start after both captain Ryan McBride and Aaron Barry were ruled out through injury.

Rory Patterson and Conor McCormack are also on the doubtful list although both are expected to be fit to start though Shiels admitted he may be tempted to freshen things up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Ryan and Aaron are both out for definite and there’s no way they’ll play,” confirmed Shiels. “Rory Patterson and Conor McCormack both trained on Thursday and we’ll see how they are before the game.

“Cristian Castells is available so we have to see if he’s ready or not and we have to make a decision on that.”

“We have niggles here and there but that’s the usual the stuff and we’ll see how things are before the game. It’s a big game, but players need rest and I’m going to do that.

“I’m going to give players a rest this week and get fresh legs on and see if it gives us a lift because we looked flat at times on Monday night against Cork City.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Although it was a decent result on Monday night, I thought we were flat. Cork were there for the taking and we just couldn’t get across the line in terms of the intensity that we would normally play at.”

Shiels said he was fully aware of Derry’s pedigree in cup competitions and was keen to build on it.

“Derry have always had good runs in the cup and I want to continue that. They have had really good success and we want to keep that tradition moving.

“Bohemians are doing well and they have had a few wins in the last few weeks and they’re right up there in the top six. You can see the threats that they have.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“They have the signed young (Dean) O’Halloran and they have got (Keith) Buckley, Jake Kelly, Curtis Byrne, Mark Quigley and Ismahil Akinade; those are really good attacking options.

“They go early to the front so we ‘ve got to make sure that we are tactically sound and we are solid in the first instance and then try to win the game.”

Related topics: