League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Drogheda United
- Gerard Grimes
- Sat, Jul 09 2016
Cobh Ramblers will welcome Drogheda United to St. Colman’s Park in what is an important game as third face fourth in the First Division.
COBH RAMBLERS
With the two previous games between these sides this season ending in a draw and a Drogheda win, Ramblers will be looking to add a Cobh victory to the record for this season.
Since these sides last met at United Park at the end of April, Cobh have won three and lost three. Those results mean Stephen Henderson’s men now sit in fourth position in the league, just three points behind Drogheda while they are four points clear of Shelbourne and Waterford, who both lost on Friday night to Athlone and Limerick respectively.
New signing Darren Murphy, who is rejoining the club from Waterford United looks set to be available for selection, after he featured in friendly against English side Fulham at the Fota Island Resort on Wednesday.
However, Graham McCarthy is suspended for this game.
DROGHEDA UNITED
Drogheda United come into this game with the hope of picking up a win that would not only see them move back into second place in the league but also move two points clear of UCD and six clear of Cobh.
Drogheda last week bounced back with a win against Waterford United following a defeat to UCD the previous week, a defeat which had brought to an end what was a seven game unbeaten run in the league.
New signing Kevin Farragher will be available for selection for this game as Pete Mahon, for the first time this season, has a full squad of players to choose from.
Speaking to droghedaunited.ie, Mahon said “I think all the pressure is on Cobh. If we win tomorrow, the gap will be six points and then we can possibly think about pulling away from them given that there are only a few games left to play."
“It’s not an easy place to go, the journey can be gruelling, but we’ve already beaten Cobh this season and it’ll be our aim to repeat that tomorrow night.”
MATCH FACTS
In the 19 games played between these sides, Drogheda have won eleven of those, while Cobh have won just two with the other six games all ending in draws.
Cobh, despite being fourth in the league, have scored just 19 goals, with only the bottom two, Athlone and Cabinteely, scoring less.
Meanwhile, Drogheda boast the second best defence in the league, conceding 18 goals this season, just one more runaway leaders Limerick.
BETTING
Cobh Ramblers 17/10; Draw 5/2; Drogheda United 29/20.
MATCH PREDICTION
Cobh Ramblers 1-1 Drogheda United.
Cobh Ramblers
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: Graham McCarthy.
Drogheda United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
About Gerard Grimes
Final year journalism student who joined Extratime.ie in May 2016 as a teenager. Mainly found in United Park covering Drogheda United games, but have also covered international matches and domestic cup finals in the Aviva …