Dundalk manager Ian Foster is expecting “a very, very good test” from Derry City when they visit Oriel Park for a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2pm), with the 33-year-old insisting that the Candystripes are “not a First Division side”, having held on to a number of their players from last year despite their demotion to the second tier. Foster will be looking to preserve his four-match unbeaten record as Lilywhites boss and extend a three-game winning run which the side have put together over the last ten days.

Derry danger
Dundalk have defeated Shelbourne (1-0), Bray Wanderers (3-1) and Drogheda United (2-1) in that space of time, but Foster knows that they face a difficult task to add another victory. “Derry will be a very decent test for us and I’m looking forward to it,” Foster told dundalkfc.com when speaking about a friendly which will be the club’s penultimate before the Premier Division kick-off on 5 March. “They’re not a First Division side because they were the worst team in the Premier League last year. They have managed to keep hold of a lot of decent players, and it will be a very, very good test for us on Saturday.”

Season ticket appeal
There will be a special season ticket desk in operation at Oriel Park for the match. Deposits and part-payments will be accepted. The actual season tickets will be available shortly to supporters who already booked, and Foster has issued a strong appeal to fans who have not yet bought one to do so. “There is a potential of €50,000 in season ticket bookings that have not yet materialised,” he said. “I fully understand that some people have been slow to renew while the squad was being formed, but now is the time for season ticket holders to stand up and be counted. The level of response over the next week or ten days is going to have a significant bearing on what we can achieve in relation to the final quality of the squad.”

Drinks promotion
The Lilywhite Lounge will be closed on Saturday due to a function, but the Enda McGuill Suite (upstairs in Oriel Park) will be open from 12.30pm and will have the Everton v Manchester United game live. There will also be a drinks promotion from 12.30 to 2pm (when Dundalk's game kicks off) with all drinks €3 and all soft drinks €2.