League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Wexford

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United are yet to win back-to-back games this season but will look to put that right on Friday night when they welcome bottom side Wexford (kick-off 7.45pm).

Tim Clancy’s side suffered league and cup defeats at home to Cabinteely, which disrupted their early-season form, but bounced back to win 1-0 at Galway United last week.

Mark Doyle struck in the first half of a game that saw Drogs boss Tim Clancy switch to a back three to accommodate Kevin Farragher’s return from a metatarsal injury.

“Kevin Farragher is very experienced for us at the back,” Clancy told the club’s media team.

“He came in and made us a lot more solid. I thought that shape suited us with the personnel we had available.”

Clancy struck a note of caution ahead of the visit of Wexford after they condemned highly-rated Bray Wanderers to a 2-0 defeat last week.

“I think in a way that’s probably a great result for us last week, Wexford beating Bray, because it shows on their day, they can beat anyone in this league.

“It’s makes us look and focus on it [Wexford] and it’s not about, we can get three points here and get a draw here.

“You look at every game and think, it’s going to be a tough game to win and that’s what it’s going to be tomorrow night. The first goal in all these games is going to be very important.”



Thomas Byrne, Jake Hyland and Adam Wixted all miss out with injury, Janabi Amour is a doubt and James Clarke is away with the Irish Schools side in Scotland.

WEXFORD

Wexford got their first win of the season at the sixth attempt last week as they stunned high-flying Bray Wanderers at Ferrycarrig Park.

Second-half goals from Emmet Nugent and Jack Doherty – his third of the season – earned a first three points for Brian O’Sullivan’s side, though they remain bottom.

"After the great performance against Bray it will give us confidence going into Friday night’s game in Drogheda,” O’Sullivan told the club’s website.

“However we are under no illusions of how hard it's going to be up there. We've trained really well over the last few weeks.



“We're all working really hard to change things and give the fans more nights like last Friday.”

Chris Kenny is the only absentee with injury, while Ryan Nolan will have a late fitness test.

Referee: David Dunne

MATCH STATS

Drogheda United and Wexford met three times in the league last season, with Tim Clancy’s side winning two of their meetings and the other ending in a draw.

Their first meeting of last season, in Ferrycarrig Park, finished 8-1 to the visitors as Sean Brennan, Lee Duffy and Chris Lyons each bagged doubles before Duffy was sent off.

Drogheda finished fourth in the First Division, reaching the semi-final of the play-offs, while Wexford finished ninth.

BETTING

Drogheda United 1/7; Draw 5/1; Wexford 12/1.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 1 – 0 Wexford

Drogheda United

Injured: Thomas Byrne (knee), Jake Hyland (broken leg), Adam Wixted (shoulder).

Doubtful: Janabi Amour (groin).

Suspended: None.

Unavailable: Thomas Clarke (international duty).

Wexford

Injured: Chris Kenny.

Doubtful: Ryan Nolan.

Suspended: None.