League Preview: Shamrock Rovers - v - Waterford

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers welcome Waterford to Tallaght Stadium for the very first time in Premier Division action (kick off 8pm). 

When the sides met earlier in the season at the RSC, a Rovers victory would have sent the Hoops top. This time around a win for Waterford could put them level with Cork City and maybe Dundalk at the top of the table depending on results elsewhere.

Despite an early red card for Rovers in Waterford, when Ally Gilchrist was unlucky to pick up a second yellow card ten minutes into the match, the Hoops were hard done by not to take a point from the game.

Graham Burke, named in the Republic of Ireland squad on the eve of Friday’s game (see here), scored a cracker for Rovers that night but the Hoops still lost 2-1.

They also lost Trevor Clarke to a serious injury that night. Tomer Chencinski didn’t excel in that match and lost his place in goal to Kevin Horgan. However Horgan picked up a knock last week and is a doubt for the match.

“It was a strange game down there last time,” was the view of Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley.  “Anything that could have went wrong, went wrong. We obviously had the sending off and then Trevor and Luke (Byrne) came off injured. 

“We played 80 odd minutes with ten men but I thought we did well down there. We played well and on another night could have got something out of the game, their keeper made really good saves. 

“Waterford are doing really well. They're winning games and playing good football. We know it is going to be a tough game.”

Rovers’ record at home is good – having lost just once in the league – but their away form has hampered the Hoops. Last week’s 1-0 loss away to St.Pat’s was their sixth defeat away from Tallaght Stadium – only Bray Wanderers have lost more in the Premier Division away from home. 

“We've been really good at home other than Bohs. We've played well and I expect us to be the same tomorrow night (against Waterford). We'll be looking to win like we have every game at home but Waterford are a good side.”

Joey O’Brien’s red card late in the first half hindered the Hoops and his suspension may see Rovers revert to a flat back four having gone three-at-the-back for the last four league games.

"We didn't play anywhere near our levels [against St Pat's] that we have been at the last few weeks and we lost the game. That was the disappointing bit, we'd been very good before that in the three games. 

“We'd played at our levels with a high tempo but against Pat's we were just flat. We were flat all over the pitch. We didn't start the game right and if you don't start games right it's very difficult to get yourself going and that's what happened.”

WATERFORD

Last Friday’s result at the RSC certainly gave ambition to talk of a Waterford title challenge. Defeating Dundalk 2-1 moved the Blues level with Lilywhites in second place, just three points behind table toppers – and reigning double winners – Cork City.

Alan Reynold’s men are within touching distance of the top of the table, having come through a difficult few weeks with suspensions and injuries. They will have to do without former Shamrock Rovers defender David Webster who is suspended.

The Blues have very effectively been deploying a diamond midfield with two players up top for much of the season. Courtney Duffus was the match winner scoring twice when Waterford last played the Hoops – a 2-1 victory towards the end of March.

His strikepartner meanwhile Izzy Akinade has got his scoring boots back and he got both goals in the 2-1 league win against Dundalk last Friday night.

Since then a much changed Blues side were eliminated from the EA Sports Cup quarter-final by 1-0 by Sligo Rovers on Tuesday evening.

Waterford FC midfielder Dean O’Halloran spoke to waterfordfc.ie ahead of the game. 

“We know that our main goal is the league and doing well in the league,” said O’Halloran the former Fulham man. 

“We battled hard throughout the 90 minutes and we kept going until the final whistle [against Sligo]. We need to concentrate on the league now.
 
“We have a few big games coming up and it’s important that we remain focused on these games. We have like six games in the space of a couple of weeks so we need to have all of our players available.”

Referee:Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

Waterford lost their last league visit to Tallaght Stadium which was in October 2014. That was in the First Division when Rovers’ B team beat them 3-0 in the last game of their one season in that division. It was a clean sheet for Conor O’Malley that day, with the current Peterborough United goalkeeper named on Thursday in Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming international friendlies.

50 years ago last month these clubs met in the FAI Cup Final. Waterford won the league title that season (only their second ever at the time) while Rovers won the cup final 3-0 – at that time a record equally five-in-a-row. Mick Leech scored twice and Mick Lawlor, having scored in each game en-route to the final, also got on the scoresheet.

Graham Burke is top scorer, along with Pat Hoban, across all the league with nine goals. Courtney Duffus is top scorer for the Blues, three behind Burk

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 20/13; Draw 11/5; Waterford 29/10.

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Waterford

Shamrock Rovers

Injured:Trevor Clarke, Sean Boyd

Doubtful:Kevin Horgan

Suspended:Joey O’Brien

Waterford

Injured:Kenny Browne, John Kavanagh, Stanley Aborah

Doubtful:None

Suspended:David Webster

Graham Burke's recent goal v @CorkCityFC scored with @FAIreland Manager Martin O'Neill watching on @tallaghtstadium#HeDoesItEveryWeekpic.twitter.com/0g6pKMEBQn

— Shamrock Rovers F.C. ???????? (@ShamrockRovers) May 10, 2018