UCD -v- Monaghan United

UCD

UCD welcome Monaghan United to the Belfield Bowl this Friday night for what is their fifth game in an unfortunate start to the season. Despite an excellent opening day win against Cork City the Students were unable to build on their early success and late goals against Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers cost them dearly.

A raft of injuries have failed to help their cause, with Paul Corry and new signing Gary Burke yet to feature this season in the league. Despite three losses on the bounce, UCD only sit four points off fourth place Drogheda United. As the table begins to take shape Martin Russell knows that a run of good form could shoot his charges up the table in no time.

A recent trip to play Waterford United in the EA Sports Cup helped to inject some much needed confidence into the side, with UCD knocking six past the Blues. Cillian Morrison grabbed himself four goals and put his name forward for consideration against Monaghan United. The Donegal native has struggled in recent time with various injuries but showed his class on Monday night.  

In injury news Mick Leahy is back in training and will be considered for the fixture while Paul Corry suffered a setback in his return after picking up a knock in Waterford. Samir Belhout returned to training on Monday but will not be consider for Friday’s game with Martin Russell saying that he needs another week. Gary Burke meanwhile is set to return to full training next week and could be in contention in the coming weeks.

Speaking to www.ucdsoccer.com before the game, Russell was quick to point out that although UCD have lost three league games in a row, in all three it has not been by more than a single goal.

"If we look at the overall picture, which we always try and do, and be objective as we can, in the recent games we have lost by the single goal, in games where we have had chances. I don't think that anyone would begrudge us a more favourable result in each of those games. So from that point of view it is hard to be critical of our play, but werecognise that we still need to be at our best, particularly in both thirds, more clinical.

"We know that Roddy (Collins) will have them fired up, they play attractive football at a high pace. They have competed admirably in each of their games so far I don’t see why it would be any different against us. We know again we have to be on top form again to get what we want, which is obviously a win."

MONAGHAN UNITED

Like UCD, Monaghan were also victorious in the EA Sports Cup last Monday night. Their victory over Fanad United in the EA Sports Cup gave Monaghan United their first win of the season. The manner in which each went about doing so however couldn’t be more contrasting. UCD had a comprehensive 6-1 win against Waterford United in a game which had ended as a contest by half-time, whereas Monaghan United made heavy going of it against Fanad United and had to depend on an injury time brace to overtake the goal that they had conceded in the first half.

Nevertheless they hope that they can continue in this winning mode when they travel to play UCD at the Bowl in search of their first league win of the campaign.

The two league defeats that United have suffered have been against two of the Premier Division’s heavyweight, Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers, though in these games Monaghan have accounted well for themselves.

Even though his side is still weakened by the absence of injured players, Collins has a strong panel to select from. In the past three games his emphasis was on defending and hopefully sneaking a share of the points. The EA Sports Cup gave a chance to look at the fringe players, but other than Micheal Isichei not many made a strong case for themselves.

Speaking before Friday night’s game, Collins was in a reflective mood. “In each of our four games so far in the league we have made steady progress. The majority

of teams that featured for us in each game are new to us this season, it takes time for such a new squad to settle in but I believe they are doing so fast.

“Against Sligo Rovers last week I was disappointed not to have got a share of the points following on from having done so the previous week against St Pats. I believe that we are very close to our opening win in the league and hopefully it will come at the Bowl against UCD. I am still missing a few of my key players through injury.”

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

MATCH STATS

Graham Rusk is UCD’s top league scorer so far this season, scoring three of their five league goals so far. All of these came from the penalty spot

This will be the first time that UCD and Monaghan have faced each other in the league since 2009, when both sides where competing in the first division. On that occasion UCD won by 3-0 and would eventually finish the season as league winners

Roddy Collins last managed a league game against UCD on August 19 2005. On that day, he saw his Shamrock Rovers side beat the Students 1-0 in Dalymount Park

BETTING

UCD 10/11; Draw 9/4; Monaghan United 3/1

PREDICTION

UCD 2-1 Monaghan United

UCD Injury News: Ger Barron, Paul Corry, Samir Belhout, Gary Burke, Tomas Boyle

UCD Suspension News: None

Monaghan United Injury News: Paul Whelan, Shaun Maher, John Reilly

Monaghan Suspension News: None