Cork City -v- Drogheda United

CORK CITY

Cork City will be looking to alter their poor home form on Friday evening at Turner’s Cross, as they take on Drogheda United in their final game before the mid-season break. The Rebels will be undoubtedly anxious to rack up three points on the board, to try and spark some momentum in what has been an uninspiring campaign.

The last run out the Cork players had was last Sunday evening, when they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Shamrock Rovers – a side who were superior to them in every department, and were really better than the one goal suggests. Their fans will be looking to put that behind them tomorrow however, with the help of the brand new white kit they’ll display.

Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie ahead of the game, manager Tommy Dunne outlined his views on the encounter: “This is a massive game for us. We need to be at the game, and we need everybody to stand up and be counted tomorrow night. We are in a situation now where we need to start rolling up our sleeves and start fighting.

“Over the next number of weeks, we need to get ourselves up the table and get a bit of momentum going. If we can get a couple of wins and a few good performances, then I think we will settle down and we will get back going.

“We will have a few bodies back after the break, and I would like to bring one or two players in as well if it’s possible. I wouldn’t be sure if it is possible or not, but we will look at the avenues to do that. In saying that, we need to buck up, because at the moment it has just not been good enough. ”

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United come into Friday night’s clash on the back of a disappointing defeat to rivals Dundalk on Monday evening. The pair met in the Louth Derby in front of the Setanta Ireland television cameras at Hunky Dorys Park, with the visitors emerging 1-0 victors.

The Drogs are currently sitting just one place and two points higher than their hosts on this coming Friday, and will hope to secure the three points and overtake sixth placed Limerick before the mid-season break.

Manager Mick Cooke gave his views on his team’s recent form ahead of the game, and also how he plans to carry on in the immediate future: “I think we have been really unlucky in the last few weeks, our performances just aren't getting the rewards they deserved.

“We have lost the last four games by the odd goal, it's a very tight margin. But I'm happy with our performances. We were denied by the brilliance of Peter Cherrie on Monday night, it's disappointing to lose the local derby, but I wasn't disappointed with the way we played.

“It's a bit game for both sides, we both need the win before going into the break. I think Cork haven't had much lucky recently either, but If we can get the three points it will make the two week break that bit better.”

Referee: Jim McKell

MATCH STATS

Just one place and two points separate both these sides as we head into the mid-season break – City are currently lying in eight position and on 17 points, while Drogheda are sitting in seventh with 19 points on the board.

Games involving the Drogs have seen a substantially larger amount of action than those involving the Rebel Army – they have scored and conceded 25 goals, while although Cork have let in two fewer, they have found the net just 16 times.

Turner’s Cross has been anything but an intimidating fortress for visiting teams this season – Tommy Dunne’s men have lost five times in eight games there – but Drogheda are hardly prolific on the road. They’ve earned all three points twice away from home, drawing four of their eight games.

BETTING

Cork City 13/10, Draw 11/5, Drogheda United 2/1.

PREDICTION

Cork City 1-1 Drogheda United. The Rebel Army are in, simply put, disastrous form as of late, but Drogheda have proved to lack a killer instinct on the road.

Cork City

Injured: Kevin Murray, Denis Behan, Colin Healy, Brian Lenihan (sitting his Leaving Cert)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None

Drogheda United

Injured: Derek Prendergast, Eric Foley
Doubtful: Declan O’Brien, Stephen Quigley
Suspended: None