Shamrock Rovers - 0 Derry City - 0: Shamrock Rovers's off-the-field problems surfaced on the field last night. This result may help the club in its battle against relegation, but minor protests during last night's clash with Derry City were a demonstration of the disillusionment among the Hoops' passionate supporters.

Cries of "sack the board" echoed around Richmond Park and kick-off was delayed by a number of minutes.

Supporters in the stand stood to applaud as both teams left the field until the game could begin. The public address reminder that Rovers could be deducted three points may have helped matters subside.

In a drab first half, the noise emanating from the the Derry supporters' drummer provided most of the entertainment.

Cillian Brennan's effort which cannoned off the upright was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock. Left back Damian Brennan also went close as he tested Russell Payne in the Rovers goal, but for most of the opening 45 minutes the defences were on top.

Rovers can take heart from their second-half display, with Trevor Molloy causing a number of problems for Derry City. First, his shot after 63 minutes was held by David Forde.

Minutes later, cutting inside from the left, he appeared to be fouled inside the box. Incensed Shamrock Rovers fans left referee Pat Whelan under no illusion that a penalty should have been awarded but their cries were ignored.

The Brandywell side looked more likely throughout the second half, but the game petered out. So at the final whistle the Derry drum continued to beat with Rovers left to reflect on the board's meeting with players on Monday.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Payne, Gough, Doyle, Palmer (McGuinness 70 mins), Malone, Treacy O'Brien, Robinson, Rutherford, Molloy, Mooney, (Grant 58 mins).

DERRY CITY: Forde, McCallion, Hutton, Delaney, Brennan, Doherty (Byrne 64 mins), Martyn, Brennan, McGlynn (Deery 83 mins), Beckett (Holt 73 mins), Murphy.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).