League Preview: Waterford -v- Sligo Rovers

WATERFORD

After a disappointing F.A.I Cup defeat away to First Division Champions U.C.D, Waterford returned to winning ways in the league with a 2-0 win over bottom side Bray Wanderers last Friday.

Alan Reynold’s side have made the most of home comforts this season winning ten of their fifteen league games at the R.S.C in 2018 and three points on Friday is vital to ensure they keep the pressure on Shamrock Rovers who currently sit two points ahead of them in that all important European place.

It has been a very impressive first season for The Blues back in the Premier Division and a top four finish is likely now with only five league games remaining and a seven point gap between themselves and St. Pats.

These sides have grown very familiar with each other this season having come up against each other on no less than four occasions already this season.

Sligo Rovers had the better of their League Cup showing coming out on top in a narrow 1-0 win in the third round.

In each of the league games this season Waterford were the winners on two occasions with the third game ending in a draw.

“It was great to get back to playing in the RSC in front of a noisy home crowd last week” Alan Reynolds told the club website

“Importantly we got the three points that I felt we deserved. We shuffled the squad around a bit and we picked up a good win. Some lads got more game time and others got a rest which after playing a lot of games this season we needed to do.

“We’ve won twice in Sligo in the league, lost in the EA Sports Cup and drawn at home in the league early in the season too so we know what to expect. They’ve had some good results away from home beating Cork City and Limerick in the last few weeks so we have to be on our game again.”

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers have a much better return of points on their travels than they do in the Showgrounds this season having picked up twenty six of their thirty five points away from home to date in 2018.

They have won their last three away games in the league and with their record around the grounds this season will be hopeful of securing number four at the RSC this weekend.

With just four leagues games remaining for Gerard Lyttle’s side and an eleven point lead on 9^th placed Limerick they look to have done enough to secure Premier Division football for 2019 but manager Lyttle is still looking to end the season on a positive note and with more points on the board.

He told the club website ahead of the game “We want to go there and win. We have this away record and we’d like to add to that. There is a target we’ve set from now to the end of the season and we’ll need wins to achieve it.  Firstly we still require a result or two to mathematically guarantee our place in the division. But pride, points, and showing we’re a better team than that of our current position is important.

“Waterford have a huge budget, they’ve got players on the bench that would get into so many top teams and that tells you all you need to know about how difficult it is going down there.

“We did really well down there earlier in the season, taking a point, and we’d like a similar performance. It was disappointing last week and the boys are keen to go out and respond to that so it’s a game we’re looking forward to.”

Referee: Robert Harvey

MATCH FACTS

These sides have met each other on four occasions already this season, three times in the league and in the League Cup 3^rd round. In the league Waterford have two of the league meetings with the third a draw. Sligo advanced in the League Cup meeting with a narrow 1-0 win.

In terms of goals, Courtney Duffus leads the way for Waterford this season with ten league goals so far this term. Injured David Cawley is out on the Bit O’Red finding the back of the net five times this season.

BETTING

Waterford 8/11; Draw 5/2; Sligo Rovers 7/2

PREDICTION

Waterford 2-1 Sligo Rovers

Waterford

Injured: Derek Daly

Doubtful: Courtney Duffus, John Martin, Bastien Hery

Suspended: Dave Webster

Sligo Rovers

Injured: David Cawley

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None