League Preview: Longford Town -v- Dundalk

LONGFORD TOWN

Last season’s SSE Airtricity First Division champions face off against the Premier Division champions as the Black and Red welcome Dundalk to the City Calling Stadium for the first time this season. The last time Longford played Dundalk, they made the champions work for their first three points of the season. The Lilywhites won by the narrowest of margins in the season opener at Oriel Park.

Of late, Longford have had success against Louth opposition, with a 3-0 win over Drogheda United. They followed this up with a well fought nil all draw with Derry City, despite being reduced to ten men on the twenty minute mark, last Saturday.

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny was in the stands watching at that match: A signal that he is by no means taking Longford for granted, despite Dundalk picking up impressive wins against Cork City and Bray Wanderers in their last two games.

The Black and Red can be expected to adopt a similarly tight approach akin to the one they deployed in Oriel Park earlier this year. They have home advantage this time and they will be hoping to cause the champions problems again, although Dundalk have found their scoring boots since. Richie Towell leads the league’s scoring charts, Dundalk have netted more goals than any other team and have conceded just four to date (two from penalties).

Longford Manager and former Lilywhite, Tony Cousins, will be without Conor Powell who was dismissed in the Derry game but Don Cowan could be in line for a return.

DUNDALK

The Lilywhites come into this game on the back of a highly impressive 8-1 victory over a struggling Bray Wanderers. It was a result that kept them at the top of the table and undefeated at the end of the first series of games.

Dundalk manager, Stephen Kenny, was full of praise for his side’s performance but said that his team was fully aware that, other than contributing to Dundalk’s goal-difference, the win was no more important than the hard fought one nil wins over Longford, Galway and Drogheda earlier in the season. He is urging his players to keep their feet on the ground and stay focused for Saturday’s game.

“The attitude of the players really has been first class. They go into every game with a hunger and a desire to win and to better themselves. We approach every game with the ambition of going to win it and that will be no different this weekend. We must have a determination to keep going.

“We will get a tough game in Longford. They are a good side who have some good players but we respect every single opponent we play. We go out to earn the victory. It will be a difficult game but we’re in good form and go there in confidence.”

It has been a positive first series of games for both sides. Dundalk have 29 points after 11 games and sit a top of the Premier Division table. The recently promoted Black and Red are in sixth place thanks to their haul of 13 points at the same juncture. Stephen Kenny said he wasn’t surprised by Longford’s start to the season but that they were an obstacle his team must focus on overcoming if they were to continue their title defence into the second series of games.

“When I saw the squad they had assembled this season, I said they would be no way they would struggle in the Premier Division. In fact, I thought they might be up near the top half, which they are. So it’s a tough away match and we must prepare accordingly.

“There are two thirds of the season left, so we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We’ve to do well in the second series of games now, starting with Longford on Saturday”.

Referee: Paul Tuite.

MATCH STATS

Should he start, it will be Richie Towell’s 100^th start for Dundalk FC.

This will be the first meeting in the Premier Division in the City Calling Stadium, since a 2002 encounter which Dundalk won 3-1.

Of 13 encounters, there has never been a scoreless draw at the Longford venue between these two sides.

BETTING

Longford Town 6/1; Draw 10/3; Dundalk 1/2.

PREDICTION

Longford 0 – 2 Dundalk

Longford Town

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Don Cowan.

Suspended: Conor Powell.

Dundalk FC

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.