League Preview: Waterford -v- Finn Harps

WATERFORD

Waterford welcome Finn Harps to the RSC knowing a win could go a long way towards ensuring Premier Division football for another season (kick-off 8pm).

Alan Reynolds’ side sit seven points clear of UCD in the play-off spot, and ten ahead of bottom-placed Harps, and could open up a sizable gap with victory here.

Last week saw the Blues end a three-game losing run with a point at Sligo Rovers, a result that could seem underwhelming were it not for the number of players missing.

Aaron Drinan, Scott Twine and Izzy Akinade departed early in July, while Bastien Héry was sold to Linfield, while Zack Elbouzedi and Karolis Chvedukas were missing.

A similar result at the RSC would maintain the gap between themselves but victory would allow Reynolds to start looking up the table once more.

“I was happy to get a point last Saturday in Sligo after three defeats on the bounce,” Reynolds told the club’s media team.

“First half was good and second half we pushed on and could have won it. We needed a good performance and we want to bring that to the next couple of games starting Friday.

“The two games against Finn Harps have been very different so far. We controlled the game down here and won 4-0 but then lost to a late goal in Finn Park. We aren’t taking Harps for granted.

“We know they’ll compete well and we have to be ready to battle. We want the points and we want to build on a positive performance last Saturday.”

Sam Bone, Elbouzedi and Kevin Lynch all miss out with injury, while Rory Feely is suspended, but Chvedukas and Rob Slevin are available again.

FINN HARPS

Just the mere 800km round trip for Harps to look forward to this evening as Ollie Horgan’s side look to gain lost ground on UCD.

It’s been a disastrous two weeks for Harps, made all the worse by the fact they’ve had to sit by while the Students bypassed them in the table.

Defeat two weeks ago at the UCD Bowl, thanks to Jason McClelland’s early goal, still left Harps a point clear of their relegation rivals, but UCD have added four points since.

With UCD not in action until Sunday, when they face a tough test against Shamrock Rovers, victory in Waterford would take them level on points once more.

“We didn’t have a game last weekend and lost to UCD the previous Friday night at Belfield,” manager Ollie Horgan told the club’s website.

“That performance wasn’t good enough against a team that was short players. We failed to take three very good chances and paid a very heavy price by not even getting a draw.

“UCD have strengthened since and Jack Keaney has come in from Sligo Rovers with others. They drew at the Brandywell and had a great win over Bohs on Monday night. “We’re now three points behind but all our lads can do is focus on getting a result against Waterford. That’s going to take strong characters with courage to step up and go for it.

“Waterford might be third from bottom of the Premier but they are ten points ahead of us and seven in front of UCD.”

Horgan will have to plan without the injured Nathan Boyle, Ciaran Gallagher and Michael Gallagher, while Jacob Borg is a doubt, but new signing Joshua Smith is available.

Referee: Robert Hennessy

MATCH STATS

Waterford and Finn Harps have met twice already this season with contrasting results, each having won on their own patch in high-scoring games.

The first meeting at the RSC in March saw the Blues win 4-0 as, following Mark Coyle’s early red card, Aaron Drinan got a brace before Shane Duggan and Dean Walsh scored.

In the return fixture at Finn Park in May, Sean Boyd scored the winner in a 3-2 victory in injury time after Mikey Place had scored twice.

BETTING

Waterford 4/6; Draw 11/4; Finn Harps 4/1.

PREDICTION

Waterford 1 – 1 Finn Harps

Waterford

Injured: Sam Bone, Zack Elbouzedi, Kevin Lynch

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Rory Feely.

Finn Harps

Injured: Nathan Boyle, Ciaran Gallagher, Michael Gallagher.

Doubtful: Jacob Borg.

Suspended: None.