Longford Town -v- Waterford United

• Simon O'Gorman
• Sat, May 01 2010


Airtricity First Division leaders Waterford United roll into Flancare Park on Saturday night to face a Longford Town side will that have the stinging criticisms of their boss, Tony Cousins, still ringing in their ears.

Waterford have won seven of their eight league games to date, keeping five clean sheets in the process. The only blip in their record occurred two weeks ago when the Suirsiders lost 1-0 at Monaghan United but a rapid return to form was assured when they put Finn Harps to the sword last weekend.

With seventeen league goals in the bank and striker Vinny Sullivan top of the Division’s scoring charts with five, the future looks rosy for a Waterford side that are many people’s favourites to win automatic promotion to the Premier.

Blues manager Stephen Henderson has major defensive problems ahead of the game with both first choice centre backs out injured. Seamus Long picked up an ankle injury during last week’s defeat of Finn Harps, while captain Kevin Murray is out for up to four weeks having torn his hamstring in training during the week. Kevin Waters remains out with a calf strain. Alan Carey is expected to partner John Hayes in the centre of defence with Paul Carey filling in at right full back.

“So far so good, buts that all, a hell of a long way to go”, Henderson told Extratime. “It’s a good start, but it’s still only a start. Seven wins out of eight isn’t bad in anyone’s book. It was a great win. Finn Harps are a good side, a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde this season, you don’t know what you’re going to get, but I think we got the good side of them tonight.”

The contrast with Longford’s situation couldn’t be more stark. The midlands outfit have managed only two wins this season, including five defeats in their last six league matches. On the up-side they have scored a respectable eleven goals, but tellingly it is defender Chris Deans who heads their goal-scoring list with three to his name.

But it is defensively that Longford have real problems. They have not kept a single clean sheet in eight league attempts and have in fact conceded two (or more) in six of those eight games. Shelbourne underlined the Town’s defensive shortcomings when they scored five goals at Flancare Park last month.

Last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at local rivals Athlone Town proved to be something of a Rubicon and manager Tony Cousins aimed a furious broadside at his own players and apologised to the club’s supporters. “We let them down big-time”, he said. “I just want to tell them that we will improve. If it’s not with the players that we have it’ll be with other players. It’s come to a time now that the players have to start producing.”

Lying ninth in the table, a full fourteen points behind Saturday night’s opponents, Cousin’s has picked a tricky week to pledge improvement. New signing Simon Kelly is suspended so will not make his debut in the game, while Philly Byrne misses out through injury.

Venue: Flancare Park
Referee: Keith Callanan
paddypower.com odds: Longford Town 4/1 Draw 12/5 Waterford United 8/13

Longford Town
Doubtful: None
Injured: Philly Byrne
Suspended: Simon Kelly

Waterford United
Doubtful: None
Injured: Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Kevin Waters
Suspended: None

Extratime.ie Prediction: Longford Town 1 Waterford United 2.