League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Cork City

• Josh Dolan
• Fri, Oct 09 2015




DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda will be looking to build on the 2-2 draw they earned against Bohemians two weeks ago when they entertain Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup finalists Cork City on Friday night.

 

United go into the game second from bottom, level on points with 10th placed Sligo and two points behind Galway in 9th.

 

Mark Kinsella's men found themselves 2-0 behind after 40 minutes of their last outing against Keith Long's men.

 

However, the Drogs showed great character to net twice in three minutes to go in level at half time.

 

"We should have gone on to win the game second half with the chances we had but it could have gone the other way. It was an excellent response from the players after the Dundalk game and hopefully it will prove to be a valuable point," Drogs boss Mark Kinsella said.

 

With three games to go and many of the relegation worried teams to still play against each other, Kinsella is expecting a number of twists and turns.


“I think there will be a lot of changes between now and the end of the season so our mentality hasn’t changed," insisted Kinsella.


"We know that our destiny is in our own hands and we have to get results and not worry about what the other sides are doing.


"If we prepare properly and the players play to their potential then I’m confident we will pick up points,” the Boynesiders boss buoyed.

 

Looking ahead to the fixture, Kinsella believes that the extra week off has given his side some positive extra training sessions ahead of Friday night.

 

"We’ve had two weeks to prepare for the game and training has gone really well and we will need to match the intensity of our performance against Bohemians. As long as the players give me 100%, we’ll always have a chance," Kinsella finished up.

 

Sean Thornton and Jason Marks will both miss Friday night's tie through suspension, while Stephe Maher is also ruled out with a knee problem.

 

CORK CITY

John Caulfield's players will begin their respective bids for a place in his Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup final team for the game against Dundalk on November 8th at the Aviva Stadium.
 

However, while having an eye on that cup final, Caulfield will want to pick up maximum points from City's final four games to ensure that City qualify for next year's Europa League without worrying about what will happen on November 8th.


“This is where we want to be every year; we want to be challenging and we want to be in Europe," Caulfield said ahead of Friday night's trip to Louth.


"It’s up to me to drive the players on and it’s up to the players to perform to the best of their abilities."

 

Caulfield has also insisted that his team will provide strong opposition in their bid to finish as high as possible in the 2015 Premier Division table.


"I have no doubt that, over the next four or five weeks, we will give very strong performances; I expect us to win matches and I expect us to finish second," the City legend continued.

 

Speaking, specifically about Friday night's tie, the City boss revealed that he's expecting an interesting, but tough tie against Mark Kinsella's men.


“It’s fascinating at the bottom of the table and it is still very hard to predict who will go down. It’s a big game; Drogheda need a result, we are second and we want to ensure we finish second.


“It’s a ground that is very similar to Bray, it is very tight, very compact. I never remember having an easy game in Drogheda, so the important thing is that we are tuned in and we give a strong performance," Caulfield concluded.

 

John Kavanagh and Colin Healy will continue to miss out through injury; Mark O'Sullivan and cup semi-final hero Danny Morrissey are both doubtful and will be assessed closer to kick-off, while Stephen Folan and Steven Beattie both return to the squad after being cup-tied for the semi-final win at the Carlisle Grounds.

 

Referee: Ray Matthews

 

MATCH STATS

Four of Drogheda’s seven wins this season have come away from United Park.

 

United’s three home league victories this season all came in the first three months of the season.

 

Cork’s only away defeat in the Premier Division this season came in a 3-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium in August.

 

BETTING

Drogheda United 7/1; Draw 3/1; Cork City 4/9.

 

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 0-1 Cork City

 

Drogheda United

Injured: Stephen Maher.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Sean Thornton, Jason Marks.

 

Cork City

Injured: John Kavanagh, Colin Healy.

Doubtful: Danny Morrissey, Mark O'Sullivan.

Suspended: None.