League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Longford Town

DROGHEDA UNITED                            

Top of the table Drogheda United host fourth placed Longford Town on Friday night as the Boynesiders look for their third win in the space of a week.

The Louth side beat UCD 2-0 last Friday, a result that saw them swap positions with the Students’ at the top of the First Division.

Tim Clancy then fielded a much-changed side against St. Mochta’s in the EA Sports Cup on Monday, winning 3-2.

“Obviously it’s great to get through to the next round but it’s a real bonus for us to get the rest of the squad out on the pitch,” Clancy told the club’s official website.

“The likes of Victor Ekanem and a lot of the younger players have had to be patient in terms of playing time so it’s a nice reward for them.

“We came away from the game with no injuries or suspensions so I’m delighted,” Clancy said.

Drogheda are the top scorers in the First Division so far, this season, having scored 22 goals in six games but Clancy has stressed that his side will have to rely on his defence more so at some stage.

“We’re a side who likes to play attacking football and thankfully we’ve been clinical in front of goal up to this point.

“There will be a stage this season where the goals won’t be so easy to come by and that’s when we’ll need our defence to bail us out.”



Clancy has no injury worries ahead of the game and is hoping his sides home record will stand to them.

“I went to see Longford play Cabinteely last Saturday and they were very impressive,” Clancy said.

“They dominated for large periods of the game, scored three goals but also kept Cabinteely’s threat on the break to a minimum.

“They play good football and like to keep it on the ground. I think they’re the second highest scorers in the league behind ourselves so it could be a high scoring game.

“We have a really good record at home this season and hopefully that’ll stand to us tomorrow night.”


LONGFORD TOWN



Longford Town travel to Louth on Friday to take on Tim Clancy’s Drogheda United, hoping to make it back-to-back league wins.

Neale Fenn’s side go into this encounter off the back of a 3-0 victory at home to Cabinteely with goals coming from Shane Elworthy and substitutes Peter Hopkins and Dean Byrne.

Longford, like Drogheda, have lost just one game so far this season - a 3-2 defeat away to Shelbourne, with former Longford striker David O’Sullivan scoring a hattrick for Shels’ on the night.

Despite sitting fourth in the league, Longford, the second highest scorers in the league, behind Drogheda, are just two points off the top of the table meaning a win against the Boynesiders, and other results going their way, could see Longford top of the league on Friday night.

In team news, Longford will be without the injured duo of Alan Kehoe and Shane O’Connor.

However, Dylan McGlade is again available after serving a suspension while defender Daniel O’Reilly has been cleared to play despite receiving seven stitches after an injury sustained against Cabinteely last week.

Referee: Andrew Mullally

 

MATCH STATS

These sides last played each other in the league in the 2015 Premier Division. Longford won both games at United Park 3-0 while the game at the City Calling Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw.

Drogheda have scored more goals, 22, than any other side in the First Division this season and boast a goal difference of +15.

Longford are the next best scorers in the league, scoring 15, and hold a goal difference of +9, having conceded six.

 

BETTING

Drogheda United 10/11; Draw 23/10; Longford Town 13/5.

 

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 2-2 Longford Town

 

Drogheda United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Longford Town

Injured: Alan Kehoe, Shane O’Connor.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.