Waterford United -v- Monaghan United
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Having achieved their first home win of the season against Longford two weeks ago, Waterford United welcome Monaghan United to the RSC tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm) hoping to repeat the trick. The Blues have a 100% away record this season, having impressively seen off the challenge of Finn Harps last time out, but they will need to build on their home record in order to keep pace with the league leaders.
Monaghan have not enjoyed the best of starts to this season. Having amassed just two points thus far they find themselves second from bottom of the division. They may however take heart from the fact that both of those points came away from home in draws at Longford and Limerick.
Plenty of reason then for the Magic Mons to be taken very seriously and it seems Blues manager Stephen Henderson is more than aware of the visitors’ threat. "Mick [Cooke] has put a very good squad together and while their league position would suggest they are struggling we here as a group will not be taking this team or any other team for granted."
Henderson also took time to reflect on last week’s victory at Finn Park: "That was by far our best performance to date this season. Fair dues to the lads because they mastered the conditions much better than the Finn Harps players. The second goal scored by Gary Dunphy and created by Willie John [Kiely] was one of the best goals seen in this division for a long time. I am delighted for Graham [Cummins] because he is a centre-half really, but now that he has two goals under his belt he might get to like playing up front. Some of our passing and interlink play was superb, despite the bumpy pitch. I feel we can remain right in the hunt because we are getting better with every game."
Meanwhile Mons boss Mick Cooke has admitted that he would be happy to come away from Waterford with a point. “We have a tough assignment away to Waterford this weekend, against a team who are brimming with confidence especially from their last game against Finn Harps where they had an impressive result and performance. Our points take so far looks poor compared to theirs, but after Saturday’s game we will have played the top four teams in the league who each are confident of gaining promotion. I believe we have now reached the point in the season where we will start stringing results together and move up the table. A point in Waterford would be a good result, Waterford see the RSC grounds as a fortress, but so far this year they have been stronger on the road. I thought we were unlucky last week end not to have got something against Sporting Fingal especially in the second game. A feature of all our performances so far is that we have always finished the stronger team, if we can start injecting this pace sooner into our games I believe that we will get the results that we are capable of, we are creating plenty of goal chances. Waterford United’s manager Stephen Henderson has put together one of the best sides in the league but nevertheless we will be travelling with a positive attitude and looking for a result”.
Neither side have any major injury doubts or suspensions, although Gary Dunphy is a slight doubt for the home side having taken a knock to the ankle against Finn Harps.
extratime.ie prediction: 3-0 Waterford
Monaghan have not enjoyed the best of starts to this season. Having amassed just two points thus far they find themselves second from bottom of the division. They may however take heart from the fact that both of those points came away from home in draws at Longford and Limerick.
Plenty of reason then for the Magic Mons to be taken very seriously and it seems Blues manager Stephen Henderson is more than aware of the visitors’ threat. "Mick [Cooke] has put a very good squad together and while their league position would suggest they are struggling we here as a group will not be taking this team or any other team for granted."
Henderson also took time to reflect on last week’s victory at Finn Park: "That was by far our best performance to date this season. Fair dues to the lads because they mastered the conditions much better than the Finn Harps players. The second goal scored by Gary Dunphy and created by Willie John [Kiely] was one of the best goals seen in this division for a long time. I am delighted for Graham [Cummins] because he is a centre-half really, but now that he has two goals under his belt he might get to like playing up front. Some of our passing and interlink play was superb, despite the bumpy pitch. I feel we can remain right in the hunt because we are getting better with every game."
Meanwhile Mons boss Mick Cooke has admitted that he would be happy to come away from Waterford with a point. “We have a tough assignment away to Waterford this weekend, against a team who are brimming with confidence especially from their last game against Finn Harps where they had an impressive result and performance. Our points take so far looks poor compared to theirs, but after Saturday’s game we will have played the top four teams in the league who each are confident of gaining promotion. I believe we have now reached the point in the season where we will start stringing results together and move up the table. A point in Waterford would be a good result, Waterford see the RSC grounds as a fortress, but so far this year they have been stronger on the road. I thought we were unlucky last week end not to have got something against Sporting Fingal especially in the second game. A feature of all our performances so far is that we have always finished the stronger team, if we can start injecting this pace sooner into our games I believe that we will get the results that we are capable of, we are creating plenty of goal chances. Waterford United’s manager Stephen Henderson has put together one of the best sides in the league but nevertheless we will be travelling with a positive attitude and looking for a result”.
Neither side have any major injury doubts or suspensions, although Gary Dunphy is a slight doubt for the home side having taken a knock to the ankle against Finn Harps.
extratime.ie prediction: 3-0 Waterford
About Dean Hayes
Dean covers Waterford United and, due to a challenge from Gareth, writes in an increasingly Gonzo style. Having found himself with a considerable surplus of a culinary herb, Dean founded sister 'site extrathyme.ie some years … View Full Profile