League Preview: Waterford -v- Finn Harps

WATERFORD

New Waterford manager Mark Bircham will hope to end a run of five successive defeats as the Blues welcome Finn Harps to the RSC for the first time this season (kick-off 7.45pm).

Nobody associated with Waterford would have envisaged such a turbulent start to the 2021 season.

The club have endured managerial upheaval, Covid-19 cases, giving a walkover to Sligo Rovers and propping up the league table with only six points after 12 games.

They have conceded 14 goals on the field of play in their last four games, not counting the 3-0 win awarded to Sligo, and scored none.

The latest man entrusted with the job of managing the team, Bircham, will have his work cut out trying to arrest this string of poor results and bring some stability to the Waterford set up.

There were some signs of hope in their last match against Derry City at the RSC last Friday night, Bircham’s first game in charge, when they went down only to a 5^th-minute Ronan Boyce goal.

The visitors dominated most of the first half, but Waterford will be encouraged by a strong second half performance.

Welsh under-19 International James Waite, ex–Ringmahon Rangers player Adam O Reilly and former Bolton player Jamie Mascoll all had good chances to equalise saved by Derry’s in-form goalkeeper Nathan Garthside.

Bircham will have had little time on the training pitch because of the quick turnaround after Friday night’s game.

Waterford will hope that they can take advantage of the fact their opponents will have to face an eight-hour bus trip before they take the field at the RSC.

“It’s great to have a game so quickly after a loss – the guys will be looking to get back out there and put things right,” Bircham told the club’s media team.

“We did everything right Friday except come out without a point. I was really impressed with the team’s performance.”

“They’re a great bunch of lads, very eager to learn. We just need to get a few more back in the squad which will happen.

“If we can compose ourselves tonight and take some of the chances presented to us on Friday, we’ll be well in there with a chance.”

Tunmise Sobowale served a one-game suspension on Friday but he picked up an injury in training and will miss out.

The versatile defender joins a lengthy list of injury absentees, with the likes of Daryl Murphy and Kyle Ferguson sidelined.

FINN HARPS

The Donegal side were one of the pacesetters in the early part of the season but, having failed to win in their last three, they have dropped back to fifth place with 15 points, 12 points behind Shamrock Rovers.

It has still been a great start to the season for Ollie Horgan’s side, given they barely avoided relegation last season.

Apart from the 4-0 trouncing by Bohemians in Finn Park on May 8^th, form has been good for the Donegal side.

They recorded a very creditable 1-1 draw with Dundalk and were desperately unlucky to lose to a last-minute goal by Drogheda in their last outing.

Harps played well on Friday night against and, once again, former underage international goalkeeper Mark McGinley was outstanding.

He pulled off a series of great saves, but there was nothing he could do when Dane Massey thundered a free kick in off the underside of the bar with the last kick of the match.

"It's tough to take now but the good thing is that we have Waterford now on Monday, a quick turnaround to try and make it right,” said defender Shane McEleney.

“We have to target every game as three points – we have a good enough squad, and there’s good strength in depth, to target every game.”

Ryan Connolly and Adam Foley are fit again after passing fitness tests ahead of the Derry game, but Dave Webster misses out after accumulating five yellow card.

Referee: Rob Hennessy

MATCH STATS

Finn Harps have very much had the upper hand on their Waterford rivals in recent years.

In the last six clashes between the sides, Harps have come out on top on each occasion, although there has never been more than a goal between the sides.

The most recent engagement was in Ballybofey on April 10^th when Harps won with a 2-1 score line.

As if to underline how tight clashes have been, on that occasion they needed a 93^rd-minute goal from David Webster to secure all three points.

BETTING

Waterford 4/1; Draw 12/5; Finn Harps 4/6.

PREDICTION

Waterford 1 – 1 Finn Harps

Waterford

Injured: Kyle Ferguson, Prince Mutswunguma, Jack Stafford, Oscar Brennan, Kian Kavanagh, Isaac Tshipamba, Tunmise Sobowale.

Doubtful: None. 

Suspended: None

Finn Harps

Injured: None

Doubtful: Sean Boyd, Stephen Folan, Johnny Dunleavy, Kosovar Sadiki

Suspended: David Webster.

Last time out against Waterford #UTH pic.twitter.com/qiPdqCf9Tg

— Finn Harps FC (@FinnHarpsFC) May 24, 2021