Derry City vs FCB Magpies Predictions

• Derry have the best home record in the League of Ireland Premier Division this season
• Ruaidhri Higgins’ side have won their last three home fixtures in Europe
• Magpies have lost but scored in both their previous European away games

Derry can deliver on home soil

After losing last week’s first leg in Gibraltar 2-0, Derry City have it all to do if they are to avoid falling at the first hurdle in Europe this season, but the good news is they do have an impressive home record.

The Red and White Army have collected more points on their own patch than any team in the League of Ireland Premier Division this season, winning nine and losing just two of their 13 such games.

Ruaidhri Higgins’ side also made the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium a fortress in Europe last season, winning all three of their matches at the venue against HB Torshavn, KuPS and Tobol and they will expect to do so again on Thursday, although that still might not be enough to see them advance.

Goals at both ends likely

While Derry have shown strong form at home this season, defensively they can be a little suspect, as they have conceded more on their own patch than they have on their travels, while they have kept just one clean-sheet in their last five all told.

FCB Magpies showed they are capable of breaking down Derry’s backline last week and the Gibraltarians can get on the scoresheet in this one, as they have netted in both their previous European away games, with one of those coming against Irish opposition in the form of Dundalk in last season’s Conference League.

The problem for Nathan Rooney’s side is they have also lost on both of their previous European away days and history could repeat itself on Thursday with Derry, who beat KuPS 2-1 in last season’s Conference League on home soil, capable of replicating that scoreline.