League of Ireland Premier Division/ Longford Town 0 Derry City 0: It's been a bad week for Longford Town. Deducted their entire league total of six points for irregularities off the pitch, they turned in a gutsy performance to deny Derry City at Flancare Park.

Indeed, Derry manager Pat Fenlon will be most disappointed with his side's dismal recent run. His side have only tasted victory once in their last five league outings.

Derry started well and should have hit the front after five minutes. Kevin McHugh found himself in plenty of space inside the penalty area but his rushed strike was badly off target.

Longford produced some nice attacking football throughout the opening half. However, finding goals continues to be their major failing.

A calamity in the home defence almost gifted Derry a 30th minute lead. Longford tried to employ the offside trap. However, Seán Hargan slipped in behind the rearguard and could only watch in disbelief as he somehow missed the target from six yards.

Kevin McHugh was close to scoring again in the 43rd minute but a last ditch tackle from Pat Sullivan prevented a certain goal.

Derry found themselves reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute. Greg O'Halloran had been booked a minute earlier. His challenge on Pat Sullivan earned him a second yellow.

Even the late introduction of the influential Dessie Baker could not swing this tie Longford's way.

In fact, the best chance of the game fell to Derry's Ruadhri Higgins in the 89th minute but his close-range header was well saved by Longford goalkeeper Mick Dempsey.

LONGFORD TOWN: Dempsey; Sullivan, Brennan, Prunty; Rutherford; Reilly (Baker, 83), Deegan, Doyle, Wexler (Lee, 90); Freeman, Mooney.

DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion, Kelly, Rogers, Hargan; McGlynn (Molloy, 82), O'Halloran, Higgins, McCourt (Brennan, 67); Hynes (Farren, 60), McHugh.

Referee: N Doyle(Dublin).