League Preview: Waterford -v- Dundalk

WATERFORD

Alan Reynold’s side will be looking to make it three wins in a row in the League of Ireland Premier Division when they welcome Dundalk to the RSC on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm - buy tickets here).

The Blues most recently defeated Bohemians as well as Cork City in the league, and the side drew with Derry City at the end of August putting together a decent run of form in the league in recent times.

The Lillywhites may pose a much harder challenge, however. The visitors were victorious at the RSC last week with Dundalk brushing Waterford aside to dump them out of the FAI Cup on that occasion.

“We were disappointed with the goals we conceded in the Dundalk cup game,” Reynolds said, speaking to the club’s website.

“You can’t give a team like Dundalk the time and space or they’ll punish you, especially in a cup quarter final. We had a go in the second half and we were much better.

“We scored and could have got another one or two so we took positives from that and will look to bring it into Friday night.”

Waterford are not completely out of the relegation mire either going into this series of games with Finn Harps still technically able to catch them, but they may have to look towards other games to pick up points with Dundalk edging ever closer to another Premier Division title.

Alan Reynolds is without the services of Dean Walsh and Kenny Browne due to injury. John Kavanagh, Will Fitzgerald and Walter Figueira are all doubts going into Friday night’s game.

DUNDALK

The Lillywhites tails will be up after the last couple of outings for the side. Last week culminated in an EA Sports Cup Final win against Derry City on penalties on Saturday, and on the previous Monday they saw off this week’s Premier Division opponents 3-1 in the FAI Cup Quarter Finals.

Attention will be firmly back on the chase for their fifth Premier Division title in six years on Friday night.

They are in pretty good shape going into the last few weeks of games having won their last six in a row and currently sitting ten points clear of Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table with six games to go.

Dundalk have beaten Waterford three times in the league alone this season putting 11 goals past Alan Reynolds men and keeping three clean sheets so it is very possible the away side should keep their excellent run of form going this weekend.

Vinny Perth will have to manage without John Mountney and Jordan Flores due to injury, while Sean Murray is returning to fitness but is still a doubt for Friday’s game.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

MATCH STATS

Waterford have only won one of the last ten meetings with Dundalk in all competitions.

Dundalk have won the other nine of those game, keeping clean sheets in seven.

The Lillywhites are unbeaten in 21 league games with their last loss coming against Sligo Rovers back in April.

BETTING

Waterford 6/1; Draw 7/2; Dundalk 1/3.

PREDICTION

Waterford 0–3 Dundalk

Waterford

Injured: Dean Walsh, Kenny Browne.

Doubtful: John Kavanagh, Will Fitzgerald, Walter Figueira.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: John Mountney, Jordan Flores.

Doubtful: Sean Murray.

Suspended: None.