Rory Patterson, the league’s top goalscorer last season, has been dropped from the Derry City squad for tonight’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division One clash against UCD at the Brandywell (kick off 7.45pm).
Dropped… Rory Patterson.
Manager Roddy Collins has defended the decision as he attempts to get his side scoring goals, stating City were not creating enough chances to include Patterson, who scored 18 league goals last season.
Derry failed to find the back of the net in their last two games.
From their nine games played so far this season, City have only scored six goals – three of those against Athlone Town who are pointless at the bottom of the league, having conceded 23 goals in their nine games played.
Collins was unmoved by criticism levelled at him by a small section of the home support after he was booed off following last Monday’s dour scoreless draw with Limerick at the Brandywell.
The Dubliner has accepted performances to date have not been satisfactory but is hopeful of turning things around against tonight’s visitors to Brandywell who have won two, drawn one and lost six of their games to date, conceding 23 goals along the way.
Ryan McBride returns to the squad having recovered from the head injury sustained against Dundalk, however, Barry McNamee (calf) and Barry Molloy (hamstring) are still missing.
Meanwhile, Patterson looks set to line out for Derry City Reserves in the Ulster Senior League on Sunday.
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