League Preview: Waterford -v- Treaty United

WATERFORD

Keith Long’s Waterford welcome Treaty United to the RSC on Friday night as they bid to keep their slim First Division title hopes alive.

The Blues were held to a costly 0-0 draw by Longford Town last Saturday and they are now 12 points behind leaders Galway United.

That means Long’s side must hope for a costly collapse by the Tribesmen if they are to avoid the tension of a play-off scenario again this season.

But a home tie against Munster rivals Treaty United gives them an opportunity at least to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s draw.

And just last week assistant boss Alan Reynolds stressed the Blues have not spoken about the scale of their deficit to the top of the table.

“We haven’t spoken about it,” he admitted. “We are just trying to win every game that comes up.

“It’s a massive gap but stranger things have happened. We will get to the window and add a couple. We will see what happens from there.”

Niall O’Keefe is ruled out through suspension but Ronan Coughlan will return from a one-match ban.

TREATY UNITED

Tommy Barrett’s Treaty United head into Friday’s clash reeling from a shock 3-0 defeat at home to Finn Harps last weekend.

The Shannonsiders went into that clash in relatively good form – having won four of their previous five before that.

But that defeat – coupled with a loss at home to Galway United a week before – means they have lost two games on the trot.

And their cause heading to the RSC will not be aided by their crippling injury list.

Darren Collins, Success Edogun, Mark Walsh, Fionn Doherty, Conor Barry, Anto O’Donnell and Denzil Fernandez are all out injured.

Meanwhile, Andy Spain returns from suspension but Ben O’Riordan is still out with a ban.

Referee: Daniel Murphy.

PREDICTION

Waterford 2-0 Treaty United

Waterford

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: Niall O’Keefe.

Treaty United

Injured: Conor Winn, Darren Collins, Success Edogun, Mark Walsh, Fionn Doherty, Conor Barry, Anto O’Donnell, Denzil Fernandez.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Ben O’Riordan.