FAI Cup Preview: Athlone Town -v- Wexford

ATHLONE TOWN

It’s an all First Division clash in the second round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup at the Athlone Town Stadium on Friday night, as Athlone entertain Wexford. (KO 7:45PM).

Athlone will be hoping that the competition can provide a welcome distraction from their poor league form.

The Middlanders have managed just two points from a possible 24 so far this season.

Four weeks ago, Town lost 3-1 to Wexford at the Athlone Town Stadium, a game they will need to have learned from if they’re to advance in 2020 edition of the FAI Cup.

At the time of uploading Athlone hadn’t released any team news.

WEXFORD

Wexford will be looking to produce a performance similar to the one that saw them win in Athlone on the 31^st of July.

Since that game, Brian O’Sullivan’s side have played four games.

They managed a 0-0 draw with league leaders Cabinteely on the back of the win over Athlone, but since then things have gone downhill for the men from Ferrycarrig Park.

Games against Shamrock Rovers II, Cobh Ramblers and Drogheda United have seen O’Sullivan’s charges come away with no points and no goals.

Azeez Yusuff, Conor English and Liam Berry are all fit to return to action following injury while Malike Hill-Benrouguibi also has a chance of making his comeback from injury.

Referee: Michael Connolly

MATCH STATS

Athlone have been knocked out in the first round of the FAI Cup in each of the last two years. In 2019 they lost to Longford while in 2018 Shelbourne knocked them out.

Wexford haven’t made it past the first hurdle since 2016 when they beat Firhouse Clover 3-0 away from home.

Athlone’s last FAI Cup win over League of Ireland opposition came back in 2009 when they beat Kildare County 2-1 at Station Road.

BETTING

Athlone Town 13/10; Draw 5/2; Wexford 8/5.

PREDICTION

Athlone Town 1–2 Wexford

Athlone Town

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: None.

Wexford

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.