Preview: Dundalk vs Wexford Youths
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Title favourites Dundalk will go four points clear at the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division standings if they overcome bottom-of-the-table Wexford Youths at Oriel Park on Thursday night. The Lilywhites go into the game on the back of two straight league wins, while they continued that form in the League Cup on Tuesday evening by defeating Monaghan United 3-0.
Wexford too recorded a win in the cup on the same night as they went a full 120 minutes to beat Premier Division club Cobh Ramblers 1-0. It hasn’t gone as well for Mick Wallace’s men in the league, however, as they sit as table proppers with just one point from three games. That sole digit was achieved last week as they drew at home to Kildare County, after beginning the campaign with defeats to Waterford United and Limerick 37.
However, despite their position in the standings, Dundalk boss John Gill knows that his side won’t have an easy task. “It will be difficult,” he admits. “They play a very funny system, this three at the back. They’re a dogged side, they don’t take many hidings, and they’re very hard to break down. But if we go about our work with the same intensity, intelligence and attitude that we showed against Monaghan on Tuesday, not only do I not fear Wexford, but we’ll give anybody a game.”
Team News: Hosts Dundalk will welcome back right-back John Flanagan from suspension after he missed the weekend win in Longford, while striker Robbie Farrell will also return from a ban having sat out Tuesday’s cup win. A number of other players rested for that match could also come back into the manager’s plans here, however, left-back Shane Grimes is now suspended. For Wexford Youths, they will be without the banned Joey Wadding, who scored an own-goal against Dundalk during last season.
