Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Longford Town
- Dave Donnelly
- Thu, Oct 22 2015
DROGHEDA UNITED
Drogheda United's final home game of the season sees them welcome Longford Town to United Park (kick-off 7.45pm) for a tie that may still have a major bearing on the relegation race.
Drogheda are poised precariously in the relegation play-off spot, two points about Limerick and tied on points – but with a lesser goal difference – with Sligo Rovers, and enter the tie knowing that a win would all but guarantee their safety with Limerick due to travel to Sligo on the final day.
“It’s a must win game for us,” manager Mark Kinsella told the club's website.
“I think our recent performances at home have been very good against Bohemians and Cork and the fans have played a big part in that. Once they see the players giving 100%, they will stick with us.
“People have written us off all season and I’m not sure many would have thought that we can still even avoid the play-offs with two games to go but we need to focus on ourselves first and let the other results take care of themselves.
“Longford is going to be one of our toughest games of the season considering what is at stake and the result they got last week so hopefully we can get some extra people through the gate and they will inspire us.”
Kinsella will be without suspended pair Robert O'Reilly and Lee Duffy, while Lloyd Buckley and Ger Pender will be assessed for minor injuries closer to kick-off.
LONGFORD TOWN
Longford Town are enjoying the fruits of their sparkling early-season form as, after enduring a difficult second-half of the season, they all-but-sealed Premier Division football with a surprise 3-2 victory over Cork City at Turner's Cross last week.
Tony Cousins' side now know that a draw will be enough to guarantee at least a tenth place finish – the only danger will be if they approach the game with a conservative mindset and fall victim to a Drogheda side who have little to gain from settling for a point with just two games left to play.
Cousins will again have to plan without Don Cowan and Pat Flynn – both long-term injury victims – but has an otherwise full squad to choose from with no suspensions or confirmed injuries.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
MATCH STATS
Drogheda United and Longford Town have met three times this season, with the midlanders winning the two previous encounters at United Park, a penalty shoot-out win in the Leinster Senior Cup and a 3-0 thumping in the league, while the sole meeting at City Calling Stadium finished 1-1.
BETTING
Drogheda United 7/5; Draw 9/4; Longford Town 19/10.
PREDICTION
Drogheda United 1 - 2 Longford Town
Drogheda United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Lloyd Buckley, Ger Pender.
Suspended: Lee Duffy, Robert O'Reilly.
Longford Town
Injured: Don Cowan, Pat Flynn.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
