League Preview: Cork City -v- Longford Town

CORK CITY

With the title race over and European football guaranteed for 2016, there is always a danger that Cork City will enter this weekend’s fixture against Longford Town with one eye on next month’s FAI Cup final.

Last Friday night saw the Leesiders draw 1-1 with another relegation battling side, Drogheda United, but with second place in the league not yet secured and places in the starting eleven for the Aviva showdown with Dundalk to play for, manager John Caulfield

“There are players coming back from injury and, over the next few weeks, it is about making sure players get game time, keep the sharpness up and keep pushing each other. The lads knew after Friday night (the draw against Drogheda) that I wasn’t happy, but we have had good training sessions this week and the intensity has been good, so you can see there is a good vibe out there. It is important for them to keep pushing each other and it is important for me to keep on top of the lads, so I am expecting a good performance on Friday night.”

The Rebel Army have dispatched of Tony Cousins’ men twice already this season, a 2-0 win at Turner’s Cross and aa 4-1 win in the City Calling Stadium. There is no doubting they would love another comfortable win, but Caulfield is weary of a team that has a lot more at stake.

“Tony (Cousins) has assembled a good side and they are well capable of staying up, but they probably need a few more results. From our point of view, we are at home, it is our second last home game of the season and hopefully the crowd will come out in force as we look to box off second place.”

“Longford are battling and they probably need to pick up a few more points, so we know it will be a tough game. It is up to us to see, this week, if we can take our chances, because I am sure we will create some.”

If Cork City are to take all three points, they may have to do so without key striker Mark O’Sullivan who is rated as doubtful. If he does not make it, his place will likely be taken by Danny Morrissey who is expected to feature for the first time since scoring the decisive goal in the FAI Cup semi-final win against Bray.

Long-term absentee John Kavanagh also misses out, while Colin Healy is not expected to feature despite returning to training. Elsewhere, Ross Gaynor misses out through suspension, while Gavan Holohan will be assessed closer to the time.

LONGFORD TOWN

Longford Town may be only two points from the top half of the table, but such is the congestion at the bottom that their Premier Division status could still be in jeopardy…and what better way to address that then a victory in Turner’s Cross.

Tony Cousins may have seen his side lose twice to Cork City this season, but they will seek some hope from the fact that Caulfield’s men have only won two of their last seven league games, scoring only one goal in the last three.

Longford for their part have won respectable points against Bohemians and Sligo Rovers recently,

Definitely out for Longford are seasoned footballers Patrick Flynn and Don Cowan who are out with long term injuries. In better news however, midfielder Aymen Ben Mohamed returned to the side last Saturday after an injury.

You can listen to Tony Cousins’ interview on a recent episode of the Extratime.ie Sportscast, where he discusses the impact of losing Flynn and Cowan to injury for so long - here.

Referee: Ben Connolly.

MATCH STATS

Longford Town have not won any of the last 25 league meetings between the sides. Their last league win over Cork City was on the 13th January 2003 when a Seán Francis goal after two minutes gave The Town a 1-0 win at Flancare Park. That game was also on a Monday night. Since then, the Rebel Army have won 16 and drawn seven of the league meetings between the sides.

Cork City have the best defensive record in the league having conceded 19 goals (0.655 goals per game) with 16 clean sheets so far this season. This compares to 25 goals conceded (0.758 goals per game) with 17 clean sheets last season.

Eighth placed Longford Town have the best goal difference in the bottom half of the table.

BETTING

Cork City 4/11; Draw 7/2; Longford Town 8/1.

PREDICTION

1-0.

Cork City

Injured: John Kavanagh, Colin Healy.

Doubtful: Mark O’Sullivan, Gavan Holohan.

Suspended: Ross Gaynor.

Longford

Injured: Patrick Flynn, Don Cowan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.