League Preview: Waterford United -v- Shelbourne

• Fran Reilly
• Fri, Apr 03 2015




WATERFORD UNITED

The Blues host Shelbourne at the RSC on Friday night after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to League of Ireland newcomers Cabinteely at Stradbrook last week. It has been a difficult start to the 2015 First Division campaign for Tommy Griffin's side as they have gleaned only four points from four games, tasting victory on just one occasion – a 2-1 win over Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park.

 

Waterford United failed to win against Shels in five attempts last season, taking only one point from the Dubliners. Though the season is still young, the Blues will need their strikeforce to start scoring goals if they are to have any hope of challenging for the play-off places – like their opponents, United have scored just three goals from four league games so far this season.

 

The hosts will be missing Shane Nolan as he serves an additional two match ban for getting a straight red card in the 2-0 defeat to Finn Harps two weeks ago. Shane's brother Brian and winger Jack Doherty are both rated as “very doubtful” to make the game after picking up hamstring and ankle injuries respectively during the loss to Cabo.

 

Speaking to Waterford-united.ie, Griffin admitted that a lack of killer instinct in front of goal cost his side against the Southsiders, as well as the Blues' frailty at set-pieces.

 

“I’m obviously disappointed with the result [against Cabinteely] but first off, I thought that we coped with the conditions better than they did. I felt that we were well in the hunt, created a couple of chances but didn’t take them,” said Griffin.


“We didn’t, for whatever reason, get to grips with the second half but having said that they didn’t create many chances themselves either. We said going up there that it was possibly a set play that was going to win the game and we had a couple of chances, but they took their one from a set play.


“We lost Jack [Doherty] late on in the game to a nasty ankle injury and Brian Nolan picked up a tight hamstring so I don’t think losing Brian for the second half helped us either,” added Griffin. “We were unfortunate with those two injuries because they are two key players for us.


“But that’s football and we just have to regroup for the game against Shelbourne – but that’s why we have a squad, so we’ll have a look at things closer to the game.”

 

 

SHELBOURNE

The Reds come into this game on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Athlone Town in Tolka Park last week, a result which ended a solid if unspectacular start to the reign of Kevin Doherty. The manner of the defeat also shattered the pre-season notion that Shels are the overwhelming favourites to win the First Division, though it is still early days in the race for promotion.

 

Before this reverse, Doherty's men had accrued two wins and a draw without conceding a goal, but the problem of last season remains – finding somebody to hit the net regularly. Under Johnny McDonnell, Shels finished second but conceded more goals and scored less (46) than eventual champions Longford Town (56) and third placed Galway United (47).

 

So far in the 2015 campaign, that trend in front of goal is continuing. The Reds have scored just three times in their opening four league games – only Cobh Ramblers (one) and Cabinteely (two) have worse records at this early stage, while their upcoming opponents Waterford United have also only netted three times to date.

 

Of Doherty's stable of strikers, only one has scored so far – Philly Hughes converting the decisive penalty against Cabo in Stradbrook. With last season's top scorer Dylan Connolly (12 goals) no longer at the club, Doherty needs somebody to step into the breach if his side are to mount a serious title challenge.

 

The Reds boss and his assistant John Martin – who just recently attained his UEFA A License – will have to plan without Paul Andrews and Simon Dixon once again as the pair continue their recovery from injuries sustained in the opening day goalless stalemate with Finn Harps, while Dylan McGlade misses out with a hamstring complaint. Sean Heaney is doubtful having just returned from international duty with the Republic of Ireland U19 squad in Germany.

 

Referee: Eoghan O'Shea.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Both sides have scored three goals from their opening four league games this season – across all 20 League of Ireland clubs, only Cabinteely (two), Cobh Ramblers (one) and Bray Wanderers in the top flight (zero, with one game more played) have worse records so far, while Galway United in the Premier Division have also only scored three times having played one game more.

 

Shels currently have a goal-difference of zero – only UCD and Longford Town can say the same heading into this weekend's set of fixtures.

 

Waterford United failed to beat Shels in five meetings last season – after a 3-3 draw at Tolka Park where the beautiful bonce of Lee Murtagh gave the Blues a point in the dying seconds of the game, Shels went on to win the other three meetings in the league and the second round FAI Cup clash in Drumcondra. The aggregate score of Reds v Blues in 2014 was 11-5.

 

Waterford United haven't beaten Shelbourne since a 1-0 win at the RSC in October 2011 – Kenny Browne scored in the 82^nd minute. The only surviving members of the matchday squads from that night are Willie John Kiely, Brian Nolan (both Waterford United) and Philly Hughes (Shelbourne).

 

 

BETTING

Waterford United 11/5; Draw 11/5; Shelbourne 11/10.

 

PREDICTION

Waterford United 0-1 Shelbourne

 

 

Waterford United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Brian Nolan (hamstring), Jack Doherty (ankle).

Suspended: Shane Nolan.

 

Shelbourne

Injured: Paul Andrews (head), Simon Dixon (head), Dylan McGlade (hamstring).

Doubtful: Sean Heaney.

Suspended: None.