Brandon Kavanagh's first-half corner gave the hosts an early lead before Mark Doyle sealed the points seven minutes from time.

The defeat leaves the Candystripes fifth in the Premier Division with Drogheda leapfrogging Waterford who are currently in the relegation play-off spot, but with a game in hand.

Derry, who face Waterford in the FAI Cup final on Sunday, 8 November, can still guarantee European football by winning the competition, leaving their continental ambitions in their own hands.

The Foylesiders have now gone seven visits without a win against Drogheda, dating back to May 2023, having also lost 1-0 on their earlier trip to United this season.

Drogheda punish Derry's slow start

Derry made a slow start and were punished after just eight minutes when former Candystripes midfielder Kavanagh whipped in a left-footed corner.

Tom Norcott failed to make contact with the delivery and, as the ball evaded everyone in the penalty area, it found its way into the net via the back post.

The visitors spurned a good chance to respond soon after when Michael Duffy ran on to Ellis Chapman's centre, but the in-form winger uncharacteristically blazed his effort over.

Jamie Stott went close from a corner in the 29th minute before Drogheda goalkeeper Fynn Talley denied Kevin Dos Santos five minutes later with a save from an effort outside the area.

Tyler Smith looked certain to equalise moments later, only for Conor Keeley to stretch out a leg and divert the ball looping towards goal. It struck the crossbar before dropping back down and away from danger.

Derry continued to enjoy possession after the interval but struggled to find a way through a resolute Drogheda defence.

Duffy had another opportunity in the 52nd minute when space opened up for a shot, but he fired straight at Talley, before Cameron Dummigan saw his effort deflect narrowly wide six minutes later.

The visitors felt they should have been awarded a penalty on the hour mark when Thomas Oluwa went down under a challenge from Stott. Referee Lucas Keating was unmoved and subsequently cautioned the Drogheda forward for his protests.

Drogheda continued to throw bodies in front of everything, restricting Derry largely to efforts from distance as Duffy called Talley into action with a sweetly-timed effort.

The Candystripes' hopes of salvaging something from the game were ended in the 83rd minute when Doyle capitalised on a defensive error.

The forward kept his composure to commit Norcott, rounded the goalkeeper and calmly slid the ball into an empty net to secure a valuable three points for the hosts.