Mervue United -v- Waterford United

MERVUE UNITED
Mervue United will look to extend their winning run to three games and in the process record a first win over Waterford Utd who make the trip to Fahy’s Field on Saturday night in the Airtricity First Division with kick-off at 7.30 p.m.

Johnny Glynn’s squad go into the game on the back of two good wins over Athlone Town and Wexford Youths and with confidence restored after some narrow and late defeats, they will hope to add to those victories and maintain that winning form.

Last week’s win in Wexford did come at a cost though as defender Martin Conneely has joined the injury list having injured his ankle ligaments in added time of that game and could be out for 6 to 8 weeks. Goalkeeper Ronan Forde (fractured finger), midfielder Shane Keogh (foot) and defender Kenny Farrell (ankle) all remain on the injury list. Stephen Walsh is suspended for this game having reached four yellow cards.

Manager Glynn on Saturday night’s game “We have put two good results together and our aim is to continue that run but it won’t be easy against one of the form teams in the division. Waterford will be focused on getting back to winning ways after dropping points at home last week to Finn Harps so we will have to play very well to continue our recent good form”

WATERFORD UTD
Waterford United will arrive at Fahy’s Field on the back of a nine game unbeaten run which includes seven straight league wins, a run that was only halted by last week’s 1-1 home draw with Finn Harps.

That draw saw the blues lose some ground on their promotion rivals Limerick and Longford, but with those two sides meeting at Jackman Park on Friday night, Paul O’Brien’s side will be eager to get back to winning ways and reduce the gap at the top of the table for the final run in.

Waterford do hold a very strong record against their hosts, having never lost a game to the Galway side but they have drawn their only two previous visits to Fahy’s Field.

Ever-present centre-back Craig Burns will miss his first game of the season after a red card late in last week’s game against Finn Harps, but top scorer and exciting prospect Sean Maguire will return from injury along with midfielder Ben Ryan who returns from suspension.

Referee: Rhona Daly (Roscommon)

MATCH STATS
The only two previous meetings between the sides at Fahy’s Field have both ended in draws - a 1-1 game in July of last season, with Pat Hoban and Paul Phelan exchanging goals, and a scoreless encounter back in April in thecorresponding fixture of Series one, which yielded a first point of the season for Mervue.

Waterford have won 9 of the 11 games between the sides since Mervue entered the league in 2009.

In those 11 games Waterford have scored 24 goals – 18 of those coming in the second half.

BETTING
Mervue Utd 4/1; Draw 13/5; Waterford United 8/13

PREDICTION
1-1 draw

Mervue United Injury News: Martin Conneely (ankle), Ronan Forde (finger), Shane Keogh (foot), Kenny Farrell (ankle)

Mervue United Suspension News: Stephen Walsh (4 yellow cards)

Waterford United Injury News: Darragh Walshe and Gary Dunphy (hip)

Waterford United Suspension News: Craig Burns.