Monaghan United -v- Longford Town
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Monaghan United play host to Longford Town tomorrow (kick-off 8pm) in a clash between two teams who have recently hit some form in the league.
Both sides suffered poor starts to the season but things have now begun to turn around. Since losing 6-0 to Waterford at the RSC, Monaghan have been unbeaten in their last four games. This run has included a 5-1 win over Kildare and impressive away wins over Athlone and Finn Harps. Longford meanwhile claimed an excellent point against Shelbourne at Tolka Park before agonizingly losing out to Limerick in the last minute last time out. Encouragingly, Town put two goals past each side and have scored more goals this season than their opponents tomorrow night.
This game marks the start of the league’s second round of matches and is therefore the two sides second meeting this season, and who could forget the first game? Longford stormed into a three-nil lead by the 13th minute, yet Monaghan pulled two back before half-time and sealed the comeback after the break. It seems greedy to expect another goal fest tomorrow night but we can only hope.
Monaghan boss Mick Cooke is eagerly anticipating this encounter. “A good win away last weekend at Ballybofey, Finn Harps were they only side in the league that I had failed to achieve a win against in my time with United, so last Saturday we got it right. I felt we put in a good performance from start to finish and weren’t flattered by the end result.
More of the same is required this week end against Longford Town. Our last outing at Flancare Park will be remembered for its six goals and our come-back from being three down. I don’t believe we can afford them the luxury of such a lead this weekend. I won’t be taken in by Longford's low position in the table, in their most recent games against Shelbourne and Limerick they were unlucky not to have taken all six points on offer. The game against Shelbourne in particular they played the home side off the park for most of the game and were leading up to very late in the game and not many sides have done that this season at Tolka Park. In our last four games were have demonstrated some good displays, there is no reason why we cannot continue the good run. We have now completed our first series of matches so it is a good time to be turning the corner performance wise, so hopefully the second series will be more fruitful for us. Again I am looking forward to a good home support.”
Neither side take any major injury worries into this game but the home side will be without Don Tierney and Alan Byrne through suspension.
Extratime.ie Prediction: Both sides have been scoring goals lately and I think this one is set up for a score draw or a narrow win for either side. With that said, I predict 2-2.
Both sides suffered poor starts to the season but things have now begun to turn around. Since losing 6-0 to Waterford at the RSC, Monaghan have been unbeaten in their last four games. This run has included a 5-1 win over Kildare and impressive away wins over Athlone and Finn Harps. Longford meanwhile claimed an excellent point against Shelbourne at Tolka Park before agonizingly losing out to Limerick in the last minute last time out. Encouragingly, Town put two goals past each side and have scored more goals this season than their opponents tomorrow night.
This game marks the start of the league’s second round of matches and is therefore the two sides second meeting this season, and who could forget the first game? Longford stormed into a three-nil lead by the 13th minute, yet Monaghan pulled two back before half-time and sealed the comeback after the break. It seems greedy to expect another goal fest tomorrow night but we can only hope.
Monaghan boss Mick Cooke is eagerly anticipating this encounter. “A good win away last weekend at Ballybofey, Finn Harps were they only side in the league that I had failed to achieve a win against in my time with United, so last Saturday we got it right. I felt we put in a good performance from start to finish and weren’t flattered by the end result.
More of the same is required this week end against Longford Town. Our last outing at Flancare Park will be remembered for its six goals and our come-back from being three down. I don’t believe we can afford them the luxury of such a lead this weekend. I won’t be taken in by Longford's low position in the table, in their most recent games against Shelbourne and Limerick they were unlucky not to have taken all six points on offer. The game against Shelbourne in particular they played the home side off the park for most of the game and were leading up to very late in the game and not many sides have done that this season at Tolka Park. In our last four games were have demonstrated some good displays, there is no reason why we cannot continue the good run. We have now completed our first series of matches so it is a good time to be turning the corner performance wise, so hopefully the second series will be more fruitful for us. Again I am looking forward to a good home support.”
Neither side take any major injury worries into this game but the home side will be without Don Tierney and Alan Byrne through suspension.
Extratime.ie Prediction: Both sides have been scoring goals lately and I think this one is set up for a score draw or a narrow win for either side. With that said, I predict 2-2.
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