EA Sports Cup Preview: Wexford -v- Waterford

WEXFORD

The home side come into this south-east cup derby (kick-off 8pm) on the back of a 2-0 away defeat to Shelbourne on Friday night desperately searching for their first win of the season.

With just two points taken so far this campaign, Wexford are in dire need of a result to get their season on track and a cup run might be the right way to do so.

Captain Graham Doyle is doubtful for the clash. The shot stopper was substituted just 17 minutes into the first half against Shels after sustaining a back muscle injury.

Doyle’s understudy Cory Chambers is ready to step in having made his first league appearance of the season as a substitute on Friday night, having earlier deputised in the 4-2 Leinster Senior Cup loss to Shelbourne.

John McKeown is fit having returned to the squad last week after he missed the previous two games through injury.

Andrew O’Connor, who missed a spot kick on Friday night, is also fit alongside Lee Duffy and Eoin Porter.

Speaking on the atmosphere in the camp following Fridays defeat, Porter said: “There’s no bad mood in the camp, everyone’s working hard for each other.”

“It’s a new team with new coaches, and it’s just taking a little time for everything to gel together.”

Manager Damien Locke may look to use this game to rotate his squad. They face another tough task on Friday night as they take on Longford, who sit just two points ahead of them.

In last season’s competition, Wexford received a bye into the second round, where they lost to eventual finalists Limerick 4-0 at The Markets Field.

WATERFORD

This is the second meeting of the sides in ten days with both teams having met in the league last weekend with Alan Reynold's men coming out on top thanks to a brace from Mark O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan also spurned the opportunity to give his team all three points in their last fixture when he missed a penalty as the Munster men were held to a scoreless draw on Saturday by Longford, a game which also saw David McDaid sent off.

The have begun to put an impressive run of form together, taking 11 points from a possible 15 following wins over Wexford, Cabinteely and fellow promotion rivals UCD with their only slip up so far being their disappointing opening day defeat to Athlone.

The visitors might also take this game as an opportunity to rest some key players and test the depth of their squad as they face a tough Cobh Ramblers side on Friday night at home, with the blues ahead of the Cork side on goal difference.

Kenny McEvoy and Dean O’Halloran are fit, as are the experienced defensive partnership of Kenny Browne and Dave Mulcahy, but Ian McLoughlin, Tom Smith, Sander Puri and Robin Dempsey are all injured.

The Blues were victorious at the stage of the competition last season, defeating non-league side Rockmount AFC before being trounced 7-0 by Cork in the subsequent round.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

MATCH STATS

This is the first meeting between the sides in this competition since the 2007 season, where Waterford came out victors in the first round by a score line of 3-0.

Waterford were the first ever team to win the tournament when they defeated Finn Harps back in the in 1973/74 season before winning it again 11 years later against Harps yet again, with The Blues come out victorious both times on a score line of 2-1.

Wexford have made it to the final just once in their short history back in 2008 when they lost to Derry 6-1 at Ferrycarrig Park.

Waterford’s last five: DWDWW

Wexford’s last five: LLDLL

BETTING

Wexford 5/1; Draw 3/1; Waterford 4/9.

PREDICTION

Waterford 2-0 Wexford

Wexford

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Graham Doyle.

Suspended: None.

Waterford

Injured: Ian McLoughlin, Tom Smith, Sander Puri and Robin Dempsey.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.