Longford Town -v- Waterford United
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Longford Town take on Waterford United in their penultimate home game of the season as both teams battle for a top half finish in the First Division. Kick off at Flancare Park on Saturday night is 7.30pm.
Goal difference is all that separates these two sides in the table with Waterford United just one place ahead of the Town in 5th spot and they have also played one game less. The result of this game could have a huge bearing on where both sides finish in the table.
The aim for Longford Town this season was a top half finish while Waterford United were hoping to build on last year’s second place finish. That hasn’t happened and it has been a disappointing and
frustrating season for the Blues.
It’s 1-1 in meetings between the sides this season with both recording 1-0 home wins. Back in April an excellent strike from the now departed Don Cowan was enough to give the Town a deserved win over a poor Waterford outfit. While the Town’s poor record at the RSC continued in July when Paul Murphy’s penalty gave the Blues all three points.
Waterford travel to the midlands on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Munster rivals Cork City last Tuesday week. Two goals either side of the break for the Leesiders killed off the Blues challenge who had
produced an encouraging performance.
Town suffered their third defeat in a row last Friday night in Monaghan when a sucker punch right at the end denied them the point their performance deserved. It was the second time in three games that the Town conceded a last gasp goal. Tony Cousins’ side need to build on that performance if they are to get anything out of this game. They have been on a terrible run of late. They haven’t recorded a win since the 1-0 victory over Salthill Devon in mid-July and have only picked up one point since then.
Injuries have been mounting again for the Town and they also have defender and former Blue Chris Deans missing for this game as he serves out the final game of his three match ban. Naill O’Reilly and Michael Lee still remain out and they’ve been joined on the treatment table by Paul Hunt, Des Hope and Jacques Morley. Defender Graham Dowling should return after missing last week’s defeat.
For the visitors, manager Paul O’Brien welcomes back Paul Murphy and Adam McSherry from suspension. Kevin Murray also returns from a ban but he is a doubt with a knee injury while Conor Sinnott might feature having recovered well from a hamstring tear.
Longford Town
Injured: Niall O’Reilly, Michael Lee, Paul Hunt, Des Hope, Jacques Morley.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Chris Deans
Waterford United
Injured: None
Doubtful: Conor Sinnott, Kevin Murray
Suspended: None
Referee: Keith Callanan (Cork)
Paddy Power odds: Longford Town 6/4 Draw 11/5 Waterford United 8/5
Extratime.ie prediction: Draw. But this is a game that could go either way.
