Athlone Town 0 - 3 Longford Town - PREVIEW | 2017 League of Ireland First Division | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football

- Athlone Town Stadium
Referee:

Credit: Steve Alfred (ETPhotos)

League Preview: Athlone Town -v- Longford Town

Graham Russell
Thu, Mar 09 2017

ATHLONE TOWN

Six points from six. Check. Three goals scored and only one conceded. Check. Causing upsets so far this season. Check.

Based on how last season went for the Shannonsiders, it is hugely unlikely that any knowledgeable fan or pundit could have predicted their start to this season. Last season, they managed a solidarity three wins and only mustered a measly total of 14 points and finished in last place in the First Division.

Contrast to this year, where they have won two from two and remarkably are already a point away from halving their total from last year.

Many believe that this early season form is down to the considerable changes in personnel in the playing staff at the moment, with Portuguese, Latvian and Romanian signings making up a part of the new squad.

Of course, new personnel coming in gives the squad a lift. But another place where the club has changed is off-the-field where French player agent Marc Fourmeaux is their new director of first team operations.

Last time out, Athlone followed up Gameweek 1's win over Waterford by claiming all 3 points thanks to a 2-1 win against Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park, leaving them on six points, just behind UCD on goal difference at the top of the table.

Can The Town keep this 100 % run going? It remains to be seen against a tough Longford team but they have been defining the odds so far this season so they will feel that another scalp is in order, particularly in front of their home fans.

LONGFORD TOWN

Longford Town travel south of Lough Ree to face near neighbours Athlone Town tomorrow night, still reeling from their last performance on Saturday at home to Cobh Ramblers in which they were comprehensively beaten 1-3.

Three second half goals saw Cobh leave The City Calling stadium with all 3 points and leave Longford without a home win, a run that stretches back to October 30^th, 2015.

It is a significant game for boss Alan Matthews, as he was manager of Athlone for over a year in the period until his resignation last June. He had done well at Lissywoolen and was popular with fans but financial struggles prompted his departure.

“I’m very disappointed with the points return of one point. We should’ve got more against Shels. We certainly got punished against Cobh,” he toldExtratime.ie.

“We contributed, I believe, to our own downfall by being very loose defensively and they picked us off.

“They got a break and Paul Skinner made a save from it and we didn’t learn from it. That’s the most disappointing thing.”

“Coming into the game we would have been looking to pick the season up with a win. We didn’t. We will see how we can fix it and go again on Friday.”

Matthews has announced that Rhys Gorman has failed to recover from the injury he picked up in last week's home defeat to Cobh Ramblers and will miss the big game.

The Town will also be without striker Don Cowan and defender Noel Haverty, as both will be out for at least the next 5 matches.

Mathews will hope last week was just a blip and will be licking their wounds by looking to bounce back on Friday night.

Referee: Andrew Mullally

MATCH FACTS

The last time the two sides met in the league was Feb 2015: Longford won 4-3 at City Calling Stadium.

The last time the two sides met at Lissywollen was an FAI Cup game in 2014, in which the away side won 0-2.

Ex-Longford Town man Ryan Gaffey will look to impress his old outfit when he plays for his new club.

Winger Ian Fletcher moved from Athlone to Longford in the off season while Longford manager Alan Mathews began last season in charge of Athlone.

Athlone’s form in their last five league games reads WWDLL

Longford’s form coming into the game in the league is LDLLL

MATCH BETTING

Athlone Town 5/2; Draw 12/5; Longford Town 10/11