UCD -v- Drogheda United
Credit:
UCD welcome Drogheda United to the Belfield Bowl on Saturday evening as eighth take on ninth with the Students looking to carry their midweek form into the league. (Kick off, 7.45pm)
Martin Russell’s side held Shamrock Rovers, who were still on a high after qualifying for the Europa League last week, to a 2-2 draw in Tallaght Stadium when the sides met in the Fourth Round of the FAI Ford Cup.
But the Students have picked up just one point in their last five league games and will need to improve on that record if they want to pull away from Drogheda United and Galway United at the bottom of the table.
Russell knows how valuable a victory would be against a side which is just a single point behind them. “We go into the Drogheda game looking to win points that will aid our cause to secure Premier Division soccer for the club again next year.”
For Drogheda a win is a must as they look to move above their opponents in the table. They have slowly reeled in UCD as the season has progressed and have lost only one of their last four league outings, gathering seven points in the process. However, last time out they crashed 4-0 away to St Pats and their recent away form includes just one win from four.
Drog’s manager Mick Cooke would have taken the positives out of their mid-week display against Louth rivals Dundalk which saw them eliminated from the Ford Cup having taken their neighbours to a replay.
On top of those positive performances Cooke will, once again, be able to call upon Stephen Quigley, Robbie Clarke and Peter McMahon who all return to the squad. However, he will be without defender Dave Rogers who serves a suspension after his contentious sending off in the defeat to St Pats.
Cooke re-enforced the need to pick up all three points from tomorrow's game stating “Neither of us will want to lose the game on Saturday night. It’s not going to be an easy trip, but we just have to gather ourselves and I’m confident we can do it.”
UCD
Injured: Ciaran Nangle (Shin).
Doubtful None.
SuspendedNone.
Drogheda United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Dave Rogers.
Referee: Neil Doyle.
Paddy Power Odds: UCD 5/4; Draw 9/4; Drogheda United 2/1.
Extratime.ie Prediction: UCD 2-1 Drogheda United.
Martin Russell’s side held Shamrock Rovers, who were still on a high after qualifying for the Europa League last week, to a 2-2 draw in Tallaght Stadium when the sides met in the Fourth Round of the FAI Ford Cup.
But the Students have picked up just one point in their last five league games and will need to improve on that record if they want to pull away from Drogheda United and Galway United at the bottom of the table.
Russell knows how valuable a victory would be against a side which is just a single point behind them. “We go into the Drogheda game looking to win points that will aid our cause to secure Premier Division soccer for the club again next year.”
For Drogheda a win is a must as they look to move above their opponents in the table. They have slowly reeled in UCD as the season has progressed and have lost only one of their last four league outings, gathering seven points in the process. However, last time out they crashed 4-0 away to St Pats and their recent away form includes just one win from four.
Drog’s manager Mick Cooke would have taken the positives out of their mid-week display against Louth rivals Dundalk which saw them eliminated from the Ford Cup having taken their neighbours to a replay.
On top of those positive performances Cooke will, once again, be able to call upon Stephen Quigley, Robbie Clarke and Peter McMahon who all return to the squad. However, he will be without defender Dave Rogers who serves a suspension after his contentious sending off in the defeat to St Pats.
Cooke re-enforced the need to pick up all three points from tomorrow's game stating “Neither of us will want to lose the game on Saturday night. It’s not going to be an easy trip, but we just have to gather ourselves and I’m confident we can do it.”
UCD
Injured: Ciaran Nangle (Shin).
Doubtful None.
SuspendedNone.
Drogheda United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Dave Rogers.
Referee: Neil Doyle.
Paddy Power Odds: UCD 5/4; Draw 9/4; Drogheda United 2/1.
Extratime.ie Prediction: UCD 2-1 Drogheda United.
