Wexford Youths -v- Mervue United

WEXFORD YOUTHS

With seven points from their opening four league games, Wexford Youths enter the weekend knowing that three points from their clash with bottom side Mervue United will keep them up with the early front runners in the 2012 First Division table.

After a shock 6-0 win over local rivals Waterford United on the opening day of the season, Wexford lost some of their early momentum with a draw away to SD Galway and a home defeat to table toppers Longford Town. But last weekend’s 1-0 win away to Finn Harps provided a crucial shot in the arm to their ambitions.

Manager Shane Keegan has a full squad to choose from on Friday night with Eric Molloy and Craig Wall returning from injury, while striker Danny Furlong also returns to action having served the suspension that followed his sending off against Longford Town.

Speaking to the club website, Keegan stressed the latent danger in a Mervue side that he believes are better than their league position might suggest. “I went to watch them myself last week against Athlone and for 40 minutes they absolutely battered Athlone, they should have been three or 4 -0 up by the time they had a man sent off... their current position in the league is not a true reflection of the strength of the team”.

MERVUE UNITED

Johnny Glynn could be missing up to seven first team players as his Mervue United side travel to Wexford still looking for their first point of the 2012 campaign.

Martin Conneely, Michael McSweeney and Alan Murphy are all definitely out with injuries, and captain Mike Elwood will also miss the game through suspension, having been sent off against Athlone Town last weekend. Glynn also has question marks hanging over the fitness of James Casserly, Noel Varley and Alex Lee.

So far Mervue have lost all four of their league games but three of these have come against the top sides in the Division, and all four have been lost by a single goal.

Speaking before the game Glynn commented:  “Last week’s game was disappointing considering we dominated the first half before Mike Elwood got sent off and that was a big turning point in the game. We have another tough game this week against a Wexford Youths side who have started the league well, taking seven points from a possible 12 but we will be going there to get a positive result and looking to put points on the board.”

Referee: Andrew Mullally.

MATCH STATS

Mervue are the only side in either division yet to register a league point, having lost all four of their games to date by a single goal. Yet they are the joint top goal-scorers in the First Division away from home.

Wexford lost all three of their league games against Mervue last season. On none of those occasions did Johnny Glynn’s side score less than three goals and the aggregate score ended up at a whopping 11-3 to the Galway side.

Just a single point on Friday night would see Wexford equal their home points tally from the whole of last season.

BETTING

Wexford 10/11; Draw 12/5; Mervue 5/2.

PREDICTION

Wexford Youths 2-1 Mervue United.

Wexford Youths Injury News: None.

Wexford Youths Suspension News: None.

Mervue United Injury News: Martin Conneely, Michael McSweeney, Alan Murphy - James Casserly, Noel Varley, Alex Lee (Doubts).

Mervue United Suspension News: Mike Elwood.