Dundalk -v- Drogheda United
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Drogheda United make the short trip to Oriel Park on Friday night to face Dundalk in the second Louth Derby of the season. Kick-off 7.45pm.
Just two places separate the teams in the league table but are divided by a twenty point margin, with Dundalk’s seven wins out-shadowing the single win for the away side.
“The games have always been tight enough since I’ve been here,” Foster, who has won four on the trot against the Boynesiders, said. “They’ve always been really, really competitive. I think I’ve had a decent record in those games. The first game here last year was 2-2. It was a crucial game for us, our first home game, and we managed to come back from 2-0 down.”
“The game this season, we went behind and managed to claw it back and win 2-1. Hopefully, we won’t have to come back from behind this time. We always look forward to the Louth Derby; the fans get behind both teams and it’s always a decent spectacle.”
Ian Foster has a number of injury worries ahead of the game and could be without six for the match. Central defender Colin Hawkins returns following illness but left-back Nathan Murphy (hamstring) is only rated 50/50. Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen Maher (groin), Stephen McDonnell (knee) and Jason Byrne (hamstring) all remaining on the sidelines. Michael Hector will serve a one-match suspension after accumulating four yellow cards though a knee injury would have prevented his participation.
One win in 16 games leaves Drogheda United joint bottom of the table with Galway United, but a 4-0 win against Mervue United last week in the FAI Cup will give much needed confidence to Mick Cooke’s side.
“We did what we wanted to do against Mervue and it was a good performance by the lads, especially to keep a clean sheet, that really added to the win.”
“Oriel Park is never an easy place to go, the fact that Ian Foster has been having injury problems will not be a factor for us and we will not underestimate Dundalk by any means. The lads are really up for this game, there is never any need to motivate players ahead of a local derby and the work rate in training has been improving and everyone is fighting for a place in the team.” Mick Cooke only absentee is the suspended Colin O'Brien.
Dundalk came from a goal down to win 2-1 in the first derby thanks to a 84th minute Daniel Kearns goal. Dundalk won three out of their four meetings last season, drawing 2-2 while winning, 3-1, 2-1 and 3-1.
Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen Maher (groin), Stephen McDonnell (knee), Jason Byrne (hamstring)
Doubtful: Nathan Murphy (hamstring)
Suspended: None
Drogheda United
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Colin O’Brien
Referee: Tom Connolly
Paddy Power Odds: Dundalk 2/9; Draw 9/2; Drogheda United 11/1
Extratime.ie Prediction: A 2-0 win for Dundalk.
Just two places separate the teams in the league table but are divided by a twenty point margin, with Dundalk’s seven wins out-shadowing the single win for the away side.
“The games have always been tight enough since I’ve been here,” Foster, who has won four on the trot against the Boynesiders, said. “They’ve always been really, really competitive. I think I’ve had a decent record in those games. The first game here last year was 2-2. It was a crucial game for us, our first home game, and we managed to come back from 2-0 down.”
“The game this season, we went behind and managed to claw it back and win 2-1. Hopefully, we won’t have to come back from behind this time. We always look forward to the Louth Derby; the fans get behind both teams and it’s always a decent spectacle.”
Ian Foster has a number of injury worries ahead of the game and could be without six for the match. Central defender Colin Hawkins returns following illness but left-back Nathan Murphy (hamstring) is only rated 50/50. Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen Maher (groin), Stephen McDonnell (knee) and Jason Byrne (hamstring) all remaining on the sidelines. Michael Hector will serve a one-match suspension after accumulating four yellow cards though a knee injury would have prevented his participation.
One win in 16 games leaves Drogheda United joint bottom of the table with Galway United, but a 4-0 win against Mervue United last week in the FAI Cup will give much needed confidence to Mick Cooke’s side.
“We did what we wanted to do against Mervue and it was a good performance by the lads, especially to keep a clean sheet, that really added to the win.”
“Oriel Park is never an easy place to go, the fact that Ian Foster has been having injury problems will not be a factor for us and we will not underestimate Dundalk by any means. The lads are really up for this game, there is never any need to motivate players ahead of a local derby and the work rate in training has been improving and everyone is fighting for a place in the team.” Mick Cooke only absentee is the suspended Colin O'Brien.
Dundalk came from a goal down to win 2-1 in the first derby thanks to a 84th minute Daniel Kearns goal. Dundalk won three out of their four meetings last season, drawing 2-2 while winning, 3-1, 2-1 and 3-1.
Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen Maher (groin), Stephen McDonnell (knee), Jason Byrne (hamstring)
Doubtful: Nathan Murphy (hamstring)
Suspended: None
Drogheda United
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Colin O’Brien
Referee: Tom Connolly
Paddy Power Odds: Dundalk 2/9; Draw 9/2; Drogheda United 11/1
Extratime.ie Prediction: A 2-0 win for Dundalk.
About Brendan White
Brendan White is Extratime News Editor and is responsible for the news section of Extratime.ie. Brendan also covers matches in Dublin and Waterford. You can contact Brendan on twitter @whitebrendan. View Full Profile