Mervue United -v- Wexford Youths

MERVUE UNITED

Mervue Utd play their only home game of May when they host third placed Wexford Youths at Fahy’s Field on Friday night.

Johnny Glynn’s side have suffered a disappointing season to date with only five points on the board and only one win to celebrate in their opening eleven games. The home side will therefore be anxious to record a second home win of the season before they face a break from league action with an FAI Cup derby with Galway city rivals SD Galway next Friday night.

Following two defeats away to both Limerick and Athlone Town, Glynn’s side will be looking to bounce back and secure a positive result as they try and close the gap on third from bottom Finn Harps.

For the first time in some weeks Glynn has no suspension worries but does still have some injuries to contend with. Martin Conneely continues to struggle with a groin injury, while Kenny Farrell (ankle) and goalkeeper Brian O’Donoghue (hand) are also out. Midfielder Gary Kelly returns from suspension while Alan Murphy and goalkeeper Ronan Forde also both return having missed last week's defeat in Athlone.

Glynn on Friday’s game “Wexford are the surprise package of the season so far and have had a very good start and have done really well in their games so far. It is going to be a very difficult game for us and we will need to be at our very best to get a result.”

WEXFORD YOUTHS

Wexford Youths will travel west on the back of a convincing 3-0 home win over Finn Harps last weekend, a result which pushed them back into third spot. Shane Keegan’s side will be looking for their third win in four games as they look to maintain a top three position heading into the mid-season break.

Wexford won the first meeting of the two sides in the current campaign in Ferrycarrig Park at the end of March as first half goals from Dean Broaders and Danny Furlong secured a 2-0 win. They will be wary though as Mervue do have a good record against the Wexford club and did win all three meetings last season.

Youths Manager Keegan travelled to watch Mervue play against title favourites Limerick two weeks ago and remarked how “It’s a bit of a mystery with Mervue, they are in every game and they manage to make every game a 50/50, yet manage to lose the games by the odd goal. I wouldn’t say they were doing a whole lot different to what they were doing last year, I don’t think they are playing any worse than they were last year, just unfortunate that luck seems to be going against them, but luck can change and I would be very wary of going up there.”

Wexford have been relatively free of suspensions and injuries in their campaign so far but do have doubts over C.J. Browne, Shane and Brian Nolan and Dean Broaders , while Aidan Keenan is suspended having reached four yellow cards.

Referee: John Grimes (Dublin).

MATCH STATS

Wexford Youths won all three league games between the club’s in the 2010 season, Mervue won all three league meetings last season.

Mervue won the only previous meeting at Fahy’s Field last season 3-0 and Tom King scored twice in that game, the winger returned to action last week as second half sub following a cruciate knee injury suffered last July.

Wexford’s first every League of Ireland visit to Galway was a scoreless draw with Mervue in August 2009 at Terryland Park.

BETTING

Mervue Utd 15/8, Draw 11/5, Wexford Youths 5/4.

PREDICTION

Mervue United 1, Wexford Youths 1.

Mervue United Injury News: Kenny Farrell (ankle), Martin Conneely (groin), Brian O’Donoghue (hand).

Mervue Suspension News: None.

Wexford Youths Injury News: C.J. Browne, Shane Nolan, Brian Nolan and Dean Broaders (All doubtful).

Wexford Youths Suspension News: Aiden Keenan.