League Preview: Waterford -v- Drogheda United

WATERFORD

Waterford will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday evening, when they face Drogheda United at the RSC (kick-off 6pm).

The Blues will field their under-19s for this Premier Division clash after two senior players were deemed to be close contacts of a confirmed Covid-19 case.

Their under-19s will be tasked with getting the club’s third win of the 2021 League of Ireland season, which would move the club off the foot of the table.

This will also be the first game for Waterford since management duo Kevin Sheedy and Mike Newell parted company with the club.

Waterford have a talented u19 team which won the under-19 League of Ireland title in 2019. Last season they topped the U19 League of Ireland Group 2 table with four wins out of six.

Their form is best highlighted by the performances of Mike Nzongong, who scored nine goals last year.  

Waterford could have made it back to back league titles, but they drew 0-0 with St. Patrick’s Athletic in the final game of the second group stage last season, which meant that The Saints progressed to the final.

DROGHEDA UNITED

After a late equaliser against Bohemians on Monday evening, Drogheda will play Waterford on Saturday evening in the sunny South East.



Drogheda are currently fifth in the table and they are level on points with Dundalk, who were beaten 1-0 by Sligo Rovers last night.

The club are without a win since April 10th, when they hammered Longford Town 4-0. Since that night, they lost to Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk, while drawing with Derry City, Sligo Rovers, and Bohemians.

A win for the Drogs could see them move one point behind Finn Harps, who are in fourth place.

Referee: Ben Connolly.

 

MATCH STATS



Their last league meeting at the RSC was in 2007, one week after Drogheda were crowned Premier Division champions with a 2-1 win over Cork City.

Shane Robinson and Dave Warren both scored that night as the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the South-East.

Their other meeting that season also finished 1-1, with Daryl Kavanagh and Declan O’Brien both scoring.

PREDICTION

Waterford 0 - 6 Drogheda United

 

Waterford

Injured: N/A

Doubtful: N/A

Suspended: N/A

 

Drogheda United

Injured: N/A

Doubtful: N/A

Suspended: N/A

    About Dylan O'Connell

    Dylan is a freelance journalist based in Cork. He joined Extratime in 2016 and he covers games all across Ireland. His bylines include The Echo, Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, The 42, RTÉ Sport, and Irish … View Full Profile