Longford Town -v- Salthill Devon
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Longford Town will be hoping that three is the magic number when they welcome bottom side Salthill Devon to Flancare Park for their final home game of the season (kick-off 7.30pm).
Town are looking to secure their third win of the season over the Galway side and a third league win in a row following wins over Waterford United and Finn Harps. Town haven’t achieved that since the end of the first series of games. That pretty much sums up their season; inconsistent.
With just one point separating Salthill and second from bottom Wexford Youths Paul McGee’s charges will be hoping for a good end to the season in order to avoid finishing bottom for the second year in a row.
Last weekend they were defeated 4-0 at home to Cork City and will be hoping to bounce back by taking something away from their trip to Flancare Park. Speaking to a local radio station McGee, despite recent results, was confident ahead of the Town game.
“We are due, if we stop messing around, a result. Longford are mid-table, not really playing for anything but we need to get a result at Longford. I’ve stressed that. That’s what we build for every week. We fail at the end of the week, that’s what we have done but the heads haven’t gone down which is a big plus to the young guys.”
Results between these two sides tend to have a huge influence on the Town’s run of form. The first meeting ended in a 2-0 win for the Midlanders and saw them move into joint second spot in the table and within a point of then leaders Shelbourne. After Town’s 1-0 win down in Drom in July they went six games without a win. With the race for 5th spot heating up between themselves and Waterford United the Town will hope for a win against Salthill Devon and then a positive result down in Cork next weekend.
For yet another week the Town will have to do without several regulars for this game. Changes will have to be made in midfield with Mark Salmon and James O’Brien both suspended but Town boss Tony Cousins is lucky to have plenty of options at his disposal and Keith Gillespie is back also from suspension. Des Hope, Niall O’Reilly and Michael Lee are all out injured.
Salthill Devon are also missing players for the trip to Longford; Timmy Molloy and Jason Lyons are away with the Connacht Schoolboys, Charlie Burke is injured and Paul Smith is suspended.
Longford Town
Injured: Niall O’Reilly, Michael Lee, Des Hope.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Mark Salmon, James O’Reilly.
Salthill Devon
Injured: Charlie Burke
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Paul Smith
Unavailable: Timmy Molloy, Jason Lyons
Referee: Kevin O’Regan (Kerry)
Paddy Power odds: Longford Town 1/7 Draw 5/1 Salthill Devon 12/1
Extratime.ie prediction: Longford Town to win 2-0.
