League Preview: Bohemians -v- Waterford

• Dave Donnelly
• Mon, Apr 30 2018




BOHEMIANS

Bohemians will look to take the momentum from Friday’s two-goal comeback against St Patrick’s Athletic into tonight’s meeting with Waterford (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Saints ran into a two-goal lead thanks to early goals in each half from striker Jake Keegan, but midfielder Ryan Brennan was then sent off for an apparent dive.

Dinny Corcoran pulled one back for Bohs before snatching a draw in injury time. The goal was credited to Kevin Devaney but manager Keith Long is adamant it was Corcoran’s.

“Dinny got both goals – he got the final touch on the second,” Long told the club’s official website.

“It’s important for him and will hopefully give him a confidence boost. We were off the pace in the first half. St Pat’s were first to everything at times.

“It sounds like I’m hitting pause, rewind and repeat every week but we simply have to cut out these errors.

“We need to tighten up. We’ve fallen behind in too many games. We conceded early in both halves and again that gave us another uphill struggle.

“Waterford will be very tough opponents. They’re third in the league for a reason.

“They’ve beaten us down in the RSC already. We felt we should have got something out of that game but we know we have to be at our very best.”

Captain Derek Pender and Karl Moore remain out, while Ryan Swan and Cristian Magerus are long-term absentees.

There are doubts over Shane Supple and Rob Cornwall, while Paddy Kavanagh serves an additional suspension following his sending-off in Derry.

 

WATERFORD

Waterford’s 100% home record was finally broken on Friday night as Sligo Rovers captured a point at the RSC.

Kyle McFadden’s own goal had given the Blues an early lead but Raff Cretaro equalized in first-half injury time, before David Webster saw red for Waterford late on.

Webster’s was Waterford’s fifth yellow card in their last five matches as Alan Reynolds’ side counted the cost of a poor disciplinary record.

“We didn’t reach the standards that we set and didn’t create enough chances,” Reynolds told the club’s social media channels.

The club have not provided any team news, but Webster will miss out with suspension following his sending-off, while Gavan Holohan also serves an extra one-game ban.

 

Referee: Ray Matthews

 

MATCH STATS

The sides have met once already this season, when Sander Puri’s goal helped the Blues to a 1-0 win at the RSC.

 

BETTING

Bohemians 19/10; Draw 19/10; Waterford 7/5.

PREDICTION

Bohemians 2 – 1 Waterford

 

Bohemians

Injured: Cristian Magerusan (foot), Karl Moore (knee), Derek Pender (calf), Ryan Swan (knee).

Doubtful: Rob Cornwall (back), Shane Supple (knee).

Suspended: None.

 

Waterford

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Gavan Holohan, Dave Webster.