UCD -v- Drogheda United

• Simon O'Gorman
• Sun, Jul 14 2013




UCD

The big news regarding UCD is that since they last played a league game (a 3-0 win over Cork City a fortnight ago) they have lost the services of their talismanic striker David McMillan to league champions Sligo Rovers.

 

McMillan scored twice against Cork that night and had managed an impressive 12 league goals by the time he departed for the West. And with the Students sitting just four points above bottom of the table Shelbourne, how they cope with McMillan’s absence will be a key element in whether they manage to steer clear of relegation come the end of the season.

 

Having suffered some trying moments in the first half of the season, UCD’s win over Cork two weeks ago got the second half of their league campaign off to the best possible start. And on Sunday they face a Drogheda side that will be feeling the physical and mental after effects of their strenuous Europa League tie against Malmo FF.

 

Martin Russell’s men, meanwhile, kept themselves match fit with two friendlies against Peterborough United and MK Dons, Both games ended 2-2 and the UCD boss was pleased with how his team performed.

 

"Although these games were not of the competitive nature that Drogheda would have experienced in Europe, both these full-time outfits served as valuable opposition during our time without a league fixture. I thought the lads performed well in the two friendlies, I know that a number caught the eye of both visiting managers, so they did no harm for themselves in that sense."

 

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda face UCD this Sunday having just returned from Sweden where they bowed out of the Europa League to Malmo FF, and it will be Mick Cooke’s job to motivate a disappointed and physically drained squad of players.

 

Having qualified for Europe by finishing second in last season’s Premier Division the Drogs league form in 2013 has, by comparison, been disappointing.

 

Drogheda have won just one of their last ten league outings (a 1-0 win away to Limerick back in mid May) and they have failed to score in their last four. But a comprehensive 3-0 win over Cork City in the EA Sports Cup and two genuinely  impressive performances against Malmo have reignited a sense of self-confidence within the squad.

 

Speaking ahead of the game Mick Cooke said, “Everyone is upbeat in the camp. We put in a great performance on Thursday, so we can hold our heads high and now we are back to league business. UCD is never an easy place to go, they have had some great results there this season, but we will be looking to get our league form back on track and hopefully moving up the table”.

 

Cooke will be without central defender Alan McNally who suffered a groin injury against Malmo and Eric Foley, while Derek Prendergast is also out through suspension.

 

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

 

 

MATCH STATS

Drogheda won the first league meeting of these teams when they met at Hunky Dorys Park in April. Gary O’Neill scored the decider in a 3-2 win for the Drogs.

 

With David McMillan gone from the UCD roster the club’s top scorers are Dean Clarke and Robbie Benson with four goals each.

 

Last Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Shelbourne ended a run of five straight league defeats for Drogheda.

 

 

BETTING

UCD 23/10; Draw 23/10; Drogheda 11/10.

 

PREDICTION

A 1-1 draw.

 

 

UCD

Injured: Tomas Boyle, Barry McCabe.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

 

Drogheda United

Injured: Alan McNally, Eric Foley.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Derek Prendergast.