Wexford Youths vs Longford Town

• Keith Wallace
• Thu, Sep 04 2008




Wexford Youths and Longford Town continue their battle at the bottom of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table this Friday evening when the pair meet at Ferrycarrig Park (kick-off 8pm). Though relegation for any club now seems unlikely, both sides will still be looking to create a gap between themselves and the bottom, with Wexford just two off the foot of the standings and Longford only a further two above that.

Despite their impressive run to the final of the League Cup this season, Wexford have struggled badly in the league and have managed just two wins from thirteen home outings - a statistic which manager Mick Wallace is desperately hoping to change. “We need to start winning more home games,” he said. “We drew with Athlone last Friday, but we need to be winning games like that and beating teams around us. We're better against the top teams really and we've won ten games this season, but six have been away from home.”

This clash will see ex-Longford legend Vinny Perth take charge of the midlanders for the first time following Aaron Callaghan’s departure from the hotseat. Perth, who acted as Callaghan’s assistant, will have an arduous task to rally his troops as they have lost nine of their last ten games. However, Wallace believes that the change of manager could prove to be a good thing. “I would prefer if Longford hadn't lost their manager,” he said, “because that can have a positive affect on teams, and this was going to be a difficult game anyway.”

Team News: Wexford manager Mick Wallace will be without four players for this game, as the injured trio of Stuart Lawlor, Kyle Dempsey and Conor Wallace are joined on the sidelines by club captain Anthony Russell, who misses out due to a one-match suspension. Longford, meanwhile, have no worries on that front.