League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Waterford

COBH RAMBLERS

It is second versus first and a Munster derby to boot in the SSE Airtricity League First Division in St Colman’s Park tonight (kick-off 7.15pm).

It doesn't get much bigger than this game for the Rams on Saturday night. Win and they go top: simple as that.

A top of the table Munster derby clash at sees second placed Cobh Ramblers and league leaders Waterford go head to head.

Stephen Henderson's side go into the game in a rich vein of form, having won four of their last five in the league, including last week's impressive win away at UCD.

Matty Whelan was the hero in that game as he scored a 79^th minute winner at the Belfield Bowl to open a two point gap on the Students.

Henderson is full of praise for his squad for getting themselves into their current position, considering the vast difference in budgets between his side and the league leaders.

"For us to be half way through the season and to be two points off a side who have put in a huge amount of investment, I can't speak highly enough of our squad to still be on their coattails.

"At the start of the campaign our main goals were to try and get through the season, to try and keep the club afloat, and to do that we were going to have to just make do in order to be in the mix with these teams.

“And for the squad to do that, and to have the opportunity to go top of the table on Saturday night, I just can't compliment our players enough.

"On the flip side, it is only halfway through the season. We can't run away with ourselves. We have to settle down, work hard and see if we can do it over the course of the full season."

On the injury front Karl Caulfield misses out with the quad muscle injury that has ruled him out of recent games, although the midfielder is close to a return. Cian Kingston remains absent due to an ankle injury.

Captain Christopher McCarthy is available after returning from suspension.

WATERFORD

Waterford will be looking to win their fourth game on the bounce in the SSE Airtricity League First Division when they face second-placed Cobh Ramblers.

After twice getting the better of the side already this season, once in the League (2-1) and the other meeting in the EA Sports League Cup (2-0), it is safe to say that this is the biggest game of the Blues season so far as they look to extend their lead at the summit of the table.

When the sides met in the previous league clash at the RSC last month, Blues defender Patrick McClean popped up with the match winning goal in a 2-1 success before Dean O’Halloran and Derek Daly notched in the 2-0 win in the League Cup.

Daly, who also scored the all-important goals in the last two games for the Blues, is looking forward to the game on Saturday.

“We need to now push on after the results the last couple of weeks and we’re looking forward to the trip to St. Colman’s Park,” he told the club's website.

“It’s a massive game for us and if we win, it will open a nice little gap at the top of the table.

“It’s a crucial win for us last week and we’re delighted with it. It has been a tough time for us in recent weeks with all the injuries so we’re really worked hard as a group of players. We need to be ready to work hard to get three points in Cobh.

“I think that maybe we need to be a bit more clinical in the final third but we’ve been defensively solid enough that the one goal gets us through game.

“We’re so defensively well set up that it makes it tough on other teams. We need to keep going with that and hopefully we can.

“We have only conceded six goals all season and that’s because we are set up so well. Everyone listens to each other and we know what we’re doing so that’s always a plus for us especially when you’re going for a league title like we are.

Manager Alan Reynolds added: “It would be nice to go down to Cobh and get one over them on their home patch but we know that we’ll have to be ready for the battle.

“We have prepared very well during the week for the game but we know that it’s going to be difficult. We’ve worked hard as a group considering the amount of injuries that we have suffered in recent weeks and we know that this is a huge game in our season.

“I thought that John Martin was excellent last week. We have players like Patrick McClean, who is a real leader at just 20, we have Derek Daly, who is only 19, getting the goals recently and we have a lot of young players so to be top of the table is great but we won’t get too carried away yet.”

In team news, Ian McLoughlin and Dean O’Halloran are on the road to recovery but will miss the trip to Cobh, while Sander Puri is also recovering from injury. Mark O’Sullivan, who sat on the bench for last week’s game against Longford Town, is rated 50/50 for the game.

A win tonight will see them go four points clear of nearest challengers UCD in second place and five ahead of tonight’s opposition. That is a great incentive in itself to pick up the three points.

Referee: Alan Carey

MATCH FACTS

Cobh's last five league games: WWLWW

Waterford's last five league games: WWDDW

Waterford have only tasted defeat in the league just the once- an opening day defeat to Athlone Town.

Cobh are undefeated at home this season. From six games, they have four wins and two draws.

PREDICTION

Cobh Ramblers 1-1 Waterford

MATCH BETTING

Cobh Ramblers 9/4; Draw 12/5; Waterford 11/10

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: Cian Kingston (ankle), Karl Caulfield (quad muscle).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Waterford

Injured: Ian McLoughlin, Dean O' Halloran, Sander Puri

Doubtful: Mark O’Sullivan.

Suspended: None.