League Preview: Waterford -v- Shamrock Rovers

WATERFORD

Waterford welcome champions Shamrock Rovers to the RSC on Easter Monday for the first time since November 2021 (kick-off 5pm).

The Blues are just a point behind the fifth placed Rovers team – although the Hoops do have a game in hand on Waterford and all the teams above them in the table.

Keith Long’s side are without a win in their last three matches and last time out they lost 1-0 at home to Sligo Rovers. 

"We were disappointed with our result on Friday night against Sligo,” said Keith Long when speaking to his club’s media team.

“Obviously we're playing the reigning champions Shamrock Rovers - who had a good win themselves on Friday (against Bohs).

"They're starting to click into gear, so we know we're going to be up against it but we're going to have a go against them, and we're certainly looking forward to the game.

“It'll be a difficult task, and we want to try bounce back with a good performance after our disappointing result on Friday night.

“It's going to be a sell-out crowd, with a big away travelling support to add to the occasion, so we're really looking forward to the game."

The Blues confirmed that both Cameron Cresswell and Barry Baggley will miss the match due to injury. Waterford fans will be hopefull that Harvey Macadam's road to recovery means he will be in the match day squad on Monday.

SHAMROCK ROVERS 

The Hoops are looking to make it three wins in 11 days when the travel south to take on Waterford on Monday. 

Speaking to shamrockrovers.ie Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley described Monday’s match as “a tough game”.

“When you watch all of their games, other than away to Derry (where they lost 3-0), they’ve been in with a real shout of winning them,” said Bradley. “You look at their forward line, (former Hoop) Padraig Amond, who we know all about, he’s scored goals all his career and is really dangerous. 

“Waterford have real pace around that, so you must respect them, respect it will be a big crowd and we know Keith (Long) will have them very well set up. So, it’ll be difficult game.”

Rovers come into the game on the back of an impressive second half performance against Bohs – the 3-1 win over the Gypsies played out in front of the biggest League of Ireland crowd in over three decades. 

“We spoke about how we felt we should’ve been a lot better in the first half. The players felt that and knew that at half time. These players are really clever with high football IQ's, they know when they’ve been good or slightly off it. 

“So, they knew at half time we hadn’t played to our levels. We had a little chat, and they were brilliant in the second half, really went up the levels, we completely dominated the second half.”

The Hoops coughed up a goal with the last kick of the game against Bohs to miss out on their third clean sheet in a row after Leon Pöhls raced out of his goal.

“We’re really annoyed. You could feel it afterwards in the dressing room, all the defenders, Leon, the group in general, it really annoyed us to concede that. It was really sloppy from our point of view; Leon switches off in the last few seconds and it cost us a goal. 

“Leon is young and is learning, but it’s every second in every minute in the game you need to focus and concentrate. Thankfully, we’ve done it in a game when we’re 3-0 up. We need to learn from that, Leon needs to learn from that, and we’ll move on, but we’re never happy to concede like that.”

Took a look at the early season stats which make good reading for Shamrock Rovers. The Hoops top possession charts with 65% (7 % points more than this stage last year). Shels have less of the ball than their opponents, sitting 7th in that table with 46%
https://t.co/BlMmQLiiid

— Macdara Ferris (@macdarabueller) March 31, 2024

Referee: Rob Hennessy

MATCH STATS

The Blues have failed to beat the Hoops in their last 13 matches. Their last win was back in March 2018 with two Courtney Duffus goals either side of a Graham Burke strike earning the win at the RSC.

Rovers won all four matches between the teams in 2021 – a 3-0 home win in May, a 4-1 away win,  a 2-0 victory in Tallaght in September and a 3-1 win in November.

Rob Hennessy is the referee on Monday and he was also the referee in charge when the sides last met in Waterford in November 2021. He took the players off the pitch during that game after fireworks from the away end disrupted play.

PREDICTION

2-0 away win

Waterford

Injured: Cameron Cresswell, Barry Baggley

Doubtful: Harvey Macadam

Suspended: None

Shamrock Rovers 

Injured: Sean Kavanagh, Neil Farrugia, Jack Byrne, Aaron McEneff

Doubtful: Rory Gaffney, 

Suspended: None

Opinion: How the mainstream media is subtly undermining women’s football and, in turn, hurting its growth. https://t.co/lfnKHI2j1Xpic.twitter.com/xx5Wm0lBwO

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) March 31, 2024